How to sample earthworm

[sham]

What is the best way/chemical that can be used so that earthworm can rise to the surface for easy sampling? Please help.
Sham

[asutoshsahu]

make the soil wet by pouring water

Have you ever done during gardening?

[David George]

I am not sure about this but earthworms are easy to find in rainy season because their holes get filled with water and they have to come out the other way[This is purely a guess] is to pour salt water because salt water irritates the skin of the earthworm.You might try it and it would be nice if you could say the result.

[Ken Ramos]

Take a rather large piece of cardboard, carpet, or an old rug even and soak it with water thoroughly. Place it on the ground, preferably in the shade of a tree or underneath the branches or on the ground along the northern side of your home. Usually by the next day or in a couple of days, you will have a sufficent amount of earthworms, provided the temperatures are not cold. This method does not harm the worms and you should find more than enough of them. If you do, then go fishing!

[February Beetle]

Yeah, when we go fishing and want worms, the night before we pick a good 'spot' maybe one that doesn't have as much grass, and pour a few huge buckets of water in a small area. If they arn't on top by morning, you can dig just a little ways and find a lot. If you use salt water, remember it will kill the plants/grass that you pour it on.

[MrMistery]

Be careful not to injur the worm, or you will have animal protection all over you...

[sham]

Sorry, I did not make myself clear. I wanted to do research on population of earthworm in relation to soil fertility. I heard about using mustard or KMnO4 and pouring it onto the soil so that the earthworm rise to the surface and therefore easy to count. I have tried mustard but it doesnt work (maybe wrong concentration). I rather not use KMnO4 because it contaminate the earth. Please help.

Sham
P/s. If I obtain a number of earthworm, I will go fishing..

[Linn]

make the soil wet by pouring water

Have you ever done during gardening?

Sham I believe the above person gave the answer for you
water does make them come to the surface if
you really drench the soil, especially at night.
That is how I used to collect my worms for fishing

and Feb beetle and Ken gave good points too, all those suggestions will bring them to the surface.

As far as chemicals go I would never recommend that.
Lynne

[sham]

Thanks everyone for the suggestion. Will try it out. BTW I am from Malaysia, a hot and humid country but with lots of ex-mining pools good for fishing.
Sham

[Ken Ramos]

Here is an unusual tactic for bringing earthworms to the surface, especially in wooded areas. Select a small hardwood tree about three inches +/- .5 diameter. With a saw, cut the tree down leaving about four inches above the soil surface. Then take the saw and "lightly" saw the stump on top till it begins to vibrate. If you move the leaves back a bit you will find numerous earthworms coming to the surface, usually all around you.

Now I do not intend to get into a big ecology discussion on forestry and tree hugging. This is just something that was shown to me years ago by some nice simple country folks back in the mountains.