There are nearly 200 species of earthworms in New Zealand but only a few introduced species are beneficial to agriculture.
There are many species of native earthworms, but these seldom occur in developed soils.
The most commonly found species in such soils originated in Europe and arrived with early Pakeha settlers.
These introduced earthworms are, in fact, essential to the development of fertile productive soil. They act as biological aerators and physical conditioners of the soil, improve soil porosity, structure, aggregate stability and water retention.
Earthworms also increase the population, activity and diversity of soil microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi. These microbes play a vital role in the supply of nutrients to pasture unlocking certain nutrients.
Soils without enough of the right type of earthworms are usually poorly structured and tend to develop a turf mat or thatch of slowly decomposing peat-like material at the surface. Old dung and dead plant material lie about the surface.
Plant nutrients tend to remain locked in the organic layer and there is poor absorption of applied fertiliser.
Plants roots in such soils are relatively shallow and pastures are therefore susceptible to drought.
And water runs off this type of pasture more easily rather than being absorbed into the soil, increasing water quality problems.
These factors can naturally inhibit pasture and crop production.
To help avoid these types of problems, soils should have a good diversity of relevant earthworm species.
The most common species in New Zealand is Aporrectodea calignosa, a topsoil dweller. This earthworm grows up to 90 millimetres long and may vary in colour from grey to pink or cream.
Another very commonly introduced earthworm is Lumbricus rubellus, a surface dweller.