Each chapter provides a general review and statement of current understanding, recent developments and advances, priorities for future research and applications

With contributions written by leading international authorities working with earthworms

A valuable source of information for scientists in biology, soil ecology and agriculture

Includes supplementary material: [...]

1. Antimicrobial Vermipeptides: From Method to Character: Sun Zhenjun*.- 2. Optimizing Earthworm Sampling in Ecosystems: Jan Valckx, Gerard Govers, Martin Hermy and Bart Muys*.- 3. Earthworms and Soil Structure: Yasemin Kavdir* and Remzi Ilay.- 4. Comparative Anatomy of the Calciferous Gland of Lumbricid Earthworms: Maria Jesus Iglesias Briones*, Trevor George Piearce.- 5. Reproduction of Earthworms: Sexual Selection and Parthenogenesis: Darío J. Díaz Cosín*, Marta Novo and Rosa Fernández.- 6. The Earthworm Inoculation Unit (EIU) Technique: Development and Use in Soil Improvement Over Two Decades : Kevin Richard Butt.- 7. Controlled Cultivation of Endogeic and Anecic Earthworms: Kevin Richard Butt* and Christopher Nathan Lowe.- 8. The Meek Shall Inherit the Burrow - Feedback in Earthworm Soil Modification: Visa Nuutinen.- 9. Earthworms Interactions with Soil Enzymes Interactions: Ridvan Kizilkaya*, Oguz Can Turgay, Sema Camci Cetin, Ayten Karaca.- 10. The Impact of Cultivation Techniques on Earthworm Populations: Avril Rothwell*, Keith Chaney and Pat Haydock .- 11. Assessing the Role of Earthworms in Biocontrol of Soil-borne Plant Fungal Diseases: Mukesh K Meghvansi*, Lokendra Singh, Ravi B Srivastava and Ajit Varma.- 12. The Use of Vermicompost Products to Control Plant Diseases and Pests: Yurdagul Simsek-Ersahin.- 13. Vermicompost as a Biological Soil Amendment: J. Tajbakhsh, E. Mohammadi Goltapeh* and Ajit Varma.- 14. Earthworm Innate Immune System: Péter Engelmann,*, Edwin L. Cooper, Balázs Opper, Péter Németh.- 15. Earthworms: A Potent Herbal Target for TCM (CAM) Research: Yung-Ming Chang, Wei-Yi Chi, Edwin L. Cooper, Wei-Wen Kuo,and Chih-Yang Huang*.- 16. Earthworms as Bioindicators of Soil Quality: Heinz-Christian Fründ*, Ulfert Graefe and Sabine Tischer.- 17. Application of Molecular Genetics to Earthworm Ecology: Current Research and Promising Future Directions: F. Lazrek, T.P. Velavan, J. Mathieu and L. Dupont* .- 18. Population Dynamics of Earthworms in Organic Farming Systems: James B. Kotcon.