The role of earthworms in P mobilization is well documented, the spatial distribution of P mobilization processes

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated research gap and conclusions and future-work section and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 5 journals. Those papers have been cited 24 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• Earthworms and plants can decrease soil greenhouse gas emissions by modulating soil moisture fluctuations and soil macroporosity in a mesocosm experiment (2024) · PLoS ONE · cited 15× · doi

  The lack of understanding of the effects of earthworms on GHG emissions in the presence of plants and soil moisture fluctuations. The need to explore the complexity of interactions between earthworms, microbial communities, plants, and soil water and aeration status.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: lack understanding effects earthworms ghg emissions presence plants
• Microplastic and nanoplastic interactions with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils: a critical review of main findings and knowledge gaps (2026) · Environmental Geochemistry and Health · doi

  The evidence on biological consequences is still insufficient for terrestrial risk assessment. The available soil study indicates that MPs can increase PFAS bioaccumulation and reproductive toxicity in earthworms, but comparable data are lacking for crop plants, soil microorganisms, other inver- tebrates, predators, and terrestrial food webs.

  generalconclusionsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: terrestrial soil evidence biological consequences still insufficient risk assessment available indicates increase pfas bioaccumulation reproductive
• Do Soil pH Levels Drive the Responses of Catalase Activity and Bacterial Communities to Microplastics? A Case Study in Mollisols (2025) · Toxics · cited 1× · doi

  Investigate the long-term effects of MPs on soil health, - Examine the impacts of MPs on other soil enzymes and microbial communities, - Study the effects of MPs on soil health under different climate and land use scenarios, - Develop strategies for the management of agricultural soils and the mitigation of plastic pollution

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: investigate long-term effects mps soil health examine impacts
• Chemical imaging reveals phosphorus mobilization patterns in earthworm-engineered drilosphere (2025) · Geoderma · cited 1× · doi

  Although the role of earthworms in P mobilization is well documented, the spatial distribution of P mobilization processes and critical microbial species within the earthworm-engineered soil microhabitat, known as the drilosphere, remains to be determined.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: mobilization role earthworms well documented spatial distribution processes critical microbial species within earthworm engineered soil
• Arsenic in Soil: A Critical and Scoping Review of Exposure Pathways and Health Impacts (2025) · Environments · cited 7× · doi

  Future research should focus on standardized epidemiological studies, longitudinal studies, soil exposure and mitigating factors, combined exposure biomarker studies, the behavior of the different As species, soil dose related to bioavailability/bioaccessibility, and effects with other elements.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: soil exposure future focus standardized epidemiological longitudinal mitigating factors combined biomarker behavior different species dose

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