Background: Enchytraeus albidus (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae) is a vital soil mesofauna species that significantly influences carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, playing an essential role in soil biogeochemical processes. 
Objective: This study seeks to assess the ecophysiological role of E. albidus in soil systems by integrating evidence from experimental studies to elucidate its contribution to organic matter decomposition, nutrient transformations, and ecosystem functioning. 
Methods: Data were gathered from microcosm, mesocosm, and field experiments utilizing controlled worm density incubations, stable isotope tracer techniques (¹³C and ¹⁵N), fluorometric enzyme assays, microbial community analysis, and high-throughput sequencing to evaluate interactions between E. albidus and soil microbiota.
Results: E. albidus significantly improved the breakdown of organic matter and sped up microbial decomposition by moving through the gut, which increased the amount of CO₂ that escaped from the soil by 15–30%. Ammonium excretion and proteolytic activity increased nitrogen mineralization rates by 20–40%, and phosphatase production improved phosphorus mobilization. E. albidus's bioturbation made nutrient-rich hotspots, where cast materials had 2 to 5 times more mineral nitrogen than the soil around them. But environmental stressors like high temperatures, heavy metal pollution, and soil acidification made it work less well.
Conclusion: E. albidus is important for keeping the soil ecosystem working by controlling the flow of nutrients and the activity of microbes. Its ecological significance emphasizes the necessity of integrating enchytraeid dynamics into biogeochemical models and sustainable soil management strategies, especially in the context of evolving environmental conditions.