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Story: Earthworms

Above- and below-ground biomass

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Forest Farmland Above ground Birds,possums, rats and others Weight per hectare26 kg Sheep and cattle Weight per hectare800–1,300 kg Below ground Earthworms Weight per hectare 330 kg Earthworms Weight per hectare 640–3,000 kg

In forests, the estimated live weight (biomass) of earthworms below ground is far greater than the weight of all the animals above ground. On farmland, however, the live weight of sheep and cattle tends to be similar to the below-ground worm biomass – although on highly productive farmland, the below-ground biomass can far outweigh that above ground.

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Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Gregor Yeates, Earthworms – Earthworms and soils, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/table/15504/above-and-below-ground-biomass (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Gregor Yeates, published 1 March 2009.