George G. Brown

TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of plant and soil biodiversity on nutrient and water use efficiencies as important ecological functions in agroecosystems are discussed, and some economic benefits of soil biodiversity to society as part of a wider strategy of conserving and using agrobiodiversity.

TL;DR: At the scale of years to decades and soil profile, it appears that the drilosphere can exert an important regulation on OM incorporation and turnover rates, and soil C stocks.

TL;DR: Much is still unknown regarding the interactions of earthworm of different ecological categories on the diversity and function of microfloral and faunal communities, and much more interdisciplinary research is needed to assess the potential role of earthworms in regulating the diversity ofmicroflora and fauna in soil systems.

TL;DR: It is shown, using meta-analysis, that on average earthworm presence in agroecosystems leads to a 25% increase in crop yield and a 23% increased in aboveground biomass and this suggests that earthworms stimulate plant growth predominantly through releasing nitrogen locked away in residue and soil organic matter.

TL;DR: The role of endogeic species in intensifying agroecosystems is likely to be more important for soil function, especially because they act as ecosystem engineers and through their mutualistic interactions with microflora, selective ingestion of soil particles, high rates of ingestion and production of casts, galleries, burrows and chambers can affect nutrient and organic matter dynamics and other pedological processes.