Cellulose is the most abundant polymer in nature and constitutes a large pool of carbon for worms and microorganisms, the main agents responsible for soil organic matter decomposition. Earthworms influence decomposition indirectly by affecting microbial population structure and dynamics and also directly because the guts possess cellulolytic activity for carbon compound breakdown and subsequent nutrient release.
Worms interact with organic matter Decomposers by actively altering beneficial bacterial and fungal populations involved in nutrient release processes.