Interaction of Earthworm Species in Sewage Sludge-Amended Soil Microcosms: Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia fetida

1988 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Hamilton ◽  
D. L. Dindal ◽  
C. M. Parkinson ◽  
M. J. Mitchell
2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-265

Earthworm avoidance response is a new tool for rapid and efficient screening of potentially toxic substances added to soil environments. This technique was used to determine if five common, ecologically different earthworm species (Allolobophora chlorotica, Aporrectodea longa, Aporrectodea caliginosa, Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris) avoid soils amended with six biosolids (treated sewage sludge) applied at rates equivalent to realistic field rates of 0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1. The results showed that A. chlorotica, E. fetida and L. terrestris were attracted by low concentrations of biosolids (2 t ha-1), whereas they avoided the highest concentration (20 t ha-1). The other species did not show any preferences. An additional treatment comparing the behaviour of E. fetida in natural and artificial soil suggested that the type of soil can alter the preference of earthworms. Comparisons of behavioural and actual toxicity data for the same six biosolids suggest that avoidance responses by earthworms are sensitive enough to reflect different toxicities of biosolids. It is concluded that earthworm avoidance behaviour offers an ecologically relevant tool for screening the deleterious rate-effect of biosolid amended soils.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 3026-3035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Rorat ◽  
Hanine Suleiman ◽  
Anna Grobelak ◽  
Anna Grosser ◽  
Małgorzata Kacprzak ◽  
...  

Biochar ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngitheni Winnie-Kate Nyoka ◽  
Ozekeke Ogbeide ◽  
Patricks Voua Otomo

AbstractTerrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pesticide pollution resulting from extensive use of pesticides, and due to the lack of regulatory measures in the developing world, there is a need for affordable means to lessen environmental effects. This study aimed to investigate the impact of biochar amendment on the toxicity of imidacloprid to life-cycle parameters and biomarker responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. E. fetida was exposed to 10% biochar-amended and non-amended OECD artificial soils spiked with 0, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3 mg imidacloprid/kg for 28 days. An LC50 of 2.7 mg/kg was only computed in the non-amended soil but not in the biochar-amended soil due to insignificant mortality. The EC50 calculated in the non-amended soil (0.92 mg/kg) for reproduction (fertility) was lower than the one computed in the biochar amended (0.98 mg/kg), indicating a decrease in toxicity in the biochar-amended substrate. Significant weight loss was observed at the two highest imidacloprid treatments in the non-amended soil and only at the highest treatment in the biochar-amended substrate, further highlighting the beneficial effects of biochar. Catalase activity decreased significantly at the two highest concentrations of non-amended soil. Yet, in the amended soil, the activity remained high, especially in the highest concentration, where it was significantly higher than the controls. This indicated more severe oxidative stress in the absence of biochar. In all non-amended treatments, there was a significant acetylcholinesterase inhibition, while lower inhibition percentages were observed in the biochar-amended soil. In most endpoints, the addition of biochar alleviated the toxic effects of imidacloprid, which shows that biochar has the potential to be useful in soil remediation. However, there is still a need for field studies to identify the most effective application rate of biochar for land application.


Chemosphere ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.D. Haigh-Baird ◽  
J. Bus ◽  
C. Engelen ◽  
R.N. Hill

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 2155-2164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherri L. Henderson ◽  
Catherine E. Dandie ◽  
Cheryl L. Patten ◽  
Bernie J. Zebarth ◽  
David L. Burton ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In agricultural cropping systems, crop residues are sources of organic carbon (C), an important factor influencing denitrification. The effects of red clover, soybean, and barley plant residues and of glucose on denitrifier abundance, denitrification gene mRNA levels, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, and denitrification rates were quantified in anoxic soil microcosms for 72 h. nosZ gene abundances and mRNA levels significantly increased in response to all organic carbon treatments over time. In contrast, the abundance and mRNA levels of Pseudomonas mandelii and closely related species (nirS P) increased only in glucose-amended soil: the nirS P guild abundance increased 5-fold over the 72-h incubation period (P < 0.001), while the mRNA level significantly increased more than 15-fold at 12 h (P < 0.001) and then subsequently decreased. The nosZ gene abundance was greater in plant residue-amended soil than in glucose-amended soil. Although plant residue carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios varied from 15:1 to 30:1, nosZ gene and mRNA levels were not significantly different among plant residue treatments, with an average of 3.5 � 107 gene copies and 6.9 � 107 transcripts g−1 dry soil. Cumulative N2O emissions and denitrification rates increased over 72 h in both glucose- and plant-tissue-C-treated soil. The nirS P and nosZ communities responded differently to glucose and plant residue amendments. However, the targeted denitrifier communities responded similarly to the different plant residues under the conditions tested despite changes in the quality of organic C and different C:N ratios.


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