Hazardous effects of eight years of application of four organic waste materials on earthworm numbers and biomass in field lysimeters.
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.
Na
Young Eun
YE
National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Bang
Hea Son
HS
Kwon
Soon Ik
SI
Kim
Myung Hyun
MH
Ahn
Young-Joon
YJ
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
D008372:Manure; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants