title: Hazardous effects of eight years of application of four organic waste materials on earthworm numbers and biomass in field lysimeters.
abstract: The hazardous effects on the earthworm numbers and biomass of eight consecutive yearly applications of three levels (12.5, 25, and 50 tons of dry matter/ha/y) of four different organic sludges (municipal sewage, industrial sewage, alcohol fermentation processing, and leather processing) to earthworm-free soils were examined using field lysimeters. Results were compared with those of pig manure compost (PMC)-treated soil. Of five species (Amynthas agrestis, A. sangyeoli, A. hupeiensis, Drawida koreana, and D. japonica) from 390 adult specimens collected 4 and 8 years after treatment, the number of species appeared to be lower in sludge-treated soils than in PMC-treated soils. Earthworm populations and biomass were correlated negatively with the pollution index [∑(heavy-metal concentration in soil/tolerable level)/number of heavy metal] 4 and 8 years after treatment. These results suggest that the long-term application of these sludges, particularly from industrial sewage and leather processing, might affect adversely the establishment of Megascolecid and Moniligastrid earthworms in field conditions.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Hea Son
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Soon Ik
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Myung Hyun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D008372:Manure / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011156:Population Density; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012722:Sewage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013633:Tanning
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants