He discovered that the chemically active colloidal matter in the soils determined how much limestone was needed. Organic matter has the ability to absorb large quantities of calcium. The more we looked at the soil and calcium connection, the more benefits we realized, such as earthworms. Earthworm eggs will stay dormant in the soil until the proper level of calcium becomes available. Earthworms open the plow sole to let oxygen in, carbon dioxide out.
Earthworms feed on dead or decaying organic matter, and then deposit castings in the soil.
These castings are richer in plant food than the soil. They also increase soil porosity, aeration, drainage, plus mixing the soil. Earthworms burrow several feet deep. Earthworms do not like unfavorable soil conditions. They cannot live in strong acid soils, or in to dry or waterlogged soils.