Effect of herbicides, organic wastes and seasonal variations

Earthworms are major contributors to soil biodiversity; they are basic driver of abiotic and biotic soil properties,therefore also known as major ecosystem engineers in terrestrial soils due to their contribution in pedogenesis. E. fetida minimizes the pollution danger caused by organic wastes degradation and internationally used as reference animal for toxicity tests. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of herbicides, organic wastes and seasonal variations on survival, growth parameters, fecundity and immune system of E. fetida. Different doses of herbicides viz. Pendimethalin and Glyphosate were used individually and in combinations. Survival and fecundity were affected and minimum number of survived adult earthworm and cocoon collected were 17.6±0.33 and 19.6±0.66, respectively in worms treated with Pendimethalin+Glyphosate @1.50+2.50 µl/kg after 90th day of experiment. Similarly, minimum body weight (0.40±0.06 gram) and length gain (6.56±0.34 cm) were observed in the same treatment.