ABSTRACT
The importance of earthworms was first recognized by Charles Darwin who stated, "The plough is one of the most ancient and most valuable of man's inventions; but long before he existed the land was in fact regularly ploughed and still continues to be thus ploughed by earthworms". This chapter summarizes the effects of earthworms and other soil fauna on soil properties and residue decomposition. Earthworms in the soil-dwelling group were mostly lacking in pigmentation. Species within the soil dwelling group matured slowly, had low rates of cocoon production, and usually had only one generation per year. Earthworm growth and development may be influenced not only by the quantity but also by the quality of crop residue. Negative effects of tillage on earthworm populations have been contributed to mechanical damage to earthworms during cultivation, loss of ground cover that would buffer climatic changes, and decreases in food supply.
