Question

Why earthworm is called the friend of farmer?


NCERT Class XI
Biology - Exemplar Problems

Chapter 7. Structural Organisation in Animals

Answer 1

INTRODUCTION:

Earthworms belongs to phylum Annelida.They live in burrows and tubes made out of sand ,under ground in the soil.They are free-living,symbiotic and parasitic animals.

Earthworms are called as farmers friends because of the following reasons:

1.They lives in burrows  in the upper layers of the soil.

2.They help in bringing the fertile soil upwards and upper used soil to the lower level

3.Worm castings contains nitrogenous wastes like urea which adds fertility to the soil.

4.Aeration of the soil is possible by the burrowing activity.

5.Water is stored deepely for a long time as the soil is soft.

6.Roots penetrate in the deep and can respire well as the air enters easily into the soil.

7.It facilitates plant growth.

Answer 2

The movement of earthworms in the soil, aerates and mixes it. This helps in the mineralisation of the soil and uptake by plants. Some species of earthworms graze on the surface of the soil; their movement mixes organic matter with the soil that act as nutrients for the plants. For these reasons, the earthworm is called the friend of the farmer.