Summary
This pilot study mobilised over 100 English farmers to conduct standardised earthworm surveys across >1300 hectares in spring 2018, establishing a practical, cost-effective framework for farmer-led soil health monitoring. The research found that 42% of surveyed fields exhibited signs of over-cultivation due to absent or rare surface and deep-burrowing earthworms, and demonstrated that tillage negatively impacted earthworm populations regardless of organic matter management. High farmer engagement (100% willing to repeat; 57% intending to change management practices) and identification of a streamlined 30-minute protocol costing approximately £1.48 ha⁻¹ suggest feasibility for national scaling to support UK soil sustainability policy.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to United Kingdom farming policy and practice, particularly the government's sustainable soils by 2030 aspiration. The study provides evidence-based guidance on cost-effective, farmer-friendly monitoring protocols that could be scaled nationally across the 4.7 million hectares of farmed land, whilst highlighting tillage as a priority management lever for soil health improvement.
Key measures
Presence/absence of earthworm ecological groups (epigeic, endogeic, anecic) per 20 cm³ pit observation; spatial distribution across 10 soil pits per field; protocol cost (£1.48 ha⁻¹ for streamlined 30-minute version); farmer participation rates and intention to change practices; trust, value and satisfaction scores
Outcomes reported
The study assessed earthworm populations across >1300 hectares of English farmland using a standardised farmer-led protocol, measuring earthworm biodiversity across three ecological groups and spatial variation. Key findings indicated that 42% of fields showed signs of over-cultivation through absence or rarity of surface and deep-burrowing earthworms, and quantified the negative impact of tillage on earthworm populations independent of organic matter management.
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