International Science Community Association Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences 2320 - 6063 5 6 2017 06 8 Earthworms as the modulators of soil properties 20 23 EN Patel Rinku V. 1 Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre for Applied Research and Testing, Vallabh Vidyanagar-388120, Gujarat, India and Department of Biology, V.P. & R.P.T.P. Science College, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh vidyanagar-388120, Gujarat, India Pandya Krishna Y. 2 Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre for Applied Research and Testing, Vallabh Vidyanagar-388120, Gujarat, India and Department of Biology, V.P. & R.P.T.P. Science College, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh vidyanagar-388120, Gujarat, India Jasrai R.T. 3 Department of Chemistry, R.K. Parikh Arts & Science College, Sardar Patel University, Petlad- 388450, Gujarat, India Brahmbhatt Nayana 4 Department of Biology, V.P. & R.P.T.P. Science College, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh vidyanagar-388120, Gujarat, India Gora Alok 1 Department of Agricultural Engineering, C.P. College of Agriculture, SDAU, SK Nagar, Gujarat, India Dulawat M.S. 2 Dept. of Farm Machinery and Power, College of Agri. Engineering & Tech., Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat-362001, India . Shefali 1 Department of Zoology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar- 125004, India Yadav Jyoti 2 Department of Zoology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar- 125004, India Gupta R.K. 3 Department of Zoology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar- 125004, India Singh Dharambir 4 Department of Zoology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar- 125004, India > Review Paper 2017 4 30 2017 06 8 The scientific literature dealing with the part of earthworms in modulating the soil properties including the gist of author’s study has been reviewed. Earthworms are known to enhance the soil fertility by increasing the levels of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that makes vermicompost suitable to use as fertilizer. Partly release of carbon as CO2 due to respiration and lowering of C/N ratio has been observed during vermicomposting. Earthworms increase the organic matter’s mineralization in soil by boosting the bacterial population and reducing soil erosion. This value additive property of earthworm makes them more capable of waste management too. Various types of agricultural and household wastes can be reduced to organic manure by the process of vermicomposting. Thus, the process of vermicomposting not only encourages the sustainable development but also helps in reducing the waste into value added organic fertilizer. Copyright@ International Science Community Association