Toxic effect of inorganic fertilizers to earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae)

Abstract

Studies on effect of inorganic chemical fertilizers to Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg earthworms. The results revealed that, when the food material was incorporated with various inorganic fertilizers, there was wide variation among the treatments with respect to mortality of adult and juvenile earthworms ranging from 0.00 to 100 per cent. Significantly highest per cent mortality of 100 % was recorded with urea @10g/kg vermifeed Followed by MOP @ 10g/kg vermifeed (95.00%). The lowest mortality was found in mixed with single super phosphate (SSP) @ 5g/kg vermifeed (28%). The complex fertilizers cause relatively moderate toxicity to the adults E. eugeniae earthworm. Among the micro nutrients tested for their toxicity, Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) were relatively toxic to earthworm adults at both tested dosages. Zero mortality of earthworms was noticed in the control treatment (0.00%), respectively. Among inorganic fertilizers were more dangerous to earthworms when incorporate in to food material of earthworms.