Ecology and management of earthworm casting on sports turf

Earthworm activity is beneficial in most natural and agricultural systems, but excessive earthworm casting is a problem on sports fields worldwide. Expulsion of soil‐rich earthworm fecal matter, or casts, as mounds of soil on the turf canopy can muddy the surface, reduce photosynthesis, and lead to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pest management science 2019-08, Vol.75 (8), p.2071-2078
Main Authors: Boyle, Paige E, Richardson, Michael D, Savin, Mary C, Karcher, Douglas E, Potter, Daniel A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural management
Agrochemicals
Chemical pest control
Construction materials
Control methods
Cultural control
Environmental conditions
Environmental management
Expulsion
Lumbricidae
Megascolecidae
Mounds
Organic chemistry
Organic matter
Pest control
Pesticides
Photosynthesis
Saponins
Soil conditions
Soil moisture
Soil properties
Soil temperature
Soil texture
Soils
Sports
Texture
Turf
vermicide
Worms
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Summary:Earthworm activity is beneficial in most natural and agricultural systems, but excessive earthworm casting is a problem on sports fields worldwide. Expulsion of soil‐rich earthworm fecal matter, or casts, as mounds of soil on the turf canopy can muddy the surface, reduce photosynthesis, and lead to thinning, weed invasion and surface softening. Casts affect ball roll on sports fields, cause fouling of maintenance equipment, and dull mower blades. Build‐up of cast material on reel mower units can affect height and quality of cut. Casting activity is dependent on environmental conditions such as soil texture, temperature, moisture, pH, and organic matter. Response to environmental conditions varies by species. Management options are limited, because no pesticides are specifically labeled for earthworm control at this time, and cultural control methods such as soil modification, turfgrass clipping removal, and sand topdressing have limited and inconsistent efficacy. Products containing plant‐derived saponins and irritants show promise for earthworm management. Pest management practices to mitigate excessive earthworm casting will likely need to be species‐specific, but limited knowledge of earthworm identification by end‐users further inhibits the efficacy of control measures. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry Excessive earthworm casting causes many problems on low‐cut turf surfaces. This article reviews earthworm interactions with turfgrass environments and prospects for managing earthworm casting.
ISSN:1526-498X
1526-4998
DOI:10.1002/ps.5479