rcollman

Thanks for this intel. I used direct AC 120 house current in the US. I tried to be safe. I wonder if my attempts not only drove some worms to the surface, but if it physically damaged those who did not come up? I am fairly ignorant about electricity and/or worms. Willing to share what I did in more detail. Short version I created 2 16 inch metal probes and gridded out one of my two 4x7 foot raised beds, with about 16 inches of soil between the weed blocker bottom and the surface. While the ground was moist, I applied a lot of water to the bed the night before. I applied my "treatment" in a 1 foot or so grid, repositioning after 2 or three minutes.. Worms came to the surface (I am looking for invasive jumping/wiggle/snake worms). I did that yesterday. Today, When I dug up about 35% of the previously electrified bed down to the weed blocker, all the found worms were not very active. I didn't find the larger sizes that came to the surface yesterday. I carefully dug and turned the other bed using a similar technique. I found large worms 12 inches or more in the soil that became very active when I tossed/spread the soil on the surface. I was stuck by the difference in the two beds. I am in NH. Thus less interested in the earthquake predictive powers of earthworm behavior, than in finding alternative ways to not raise invasive worms. I wondered if I could "electrify" an entire bed what would happen. Probably would have some unanticipated consequences impacting future crops in those beds. Thanks for this thread!!