Assessment of neonicotinoid on the vermicomposting efficacy, avoidance behavior and growth parameters of earthworm Eisenia fetida
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Date
2019
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CCSHAU
Abstract
A greater part (>80%) of the biomass of land invertebrates is constituted by earthworms which play a useful role in increasing and structuring the nutrient content of the soil. Neonicotinoid insecticides are among some of the most important insecticides applied to crops which have been the world‘s largest selling insecticides for many years. On one hand, the pesticides help in enhancing the quality and quantity of crop production, but the indiscriminate use of pesticides also poses immense threat to the growth and survivability of earthworm. Due to earthworm‘s uniform distribution in agro ecosystems, they are more prone to the damage caused by pesticides. Present study was carried out to assess the impact of neonicotinoid on the vermicomposting efficacy, avoidance behavior and growth parameters of earthworm Eisenia fetida. The insecticides viz. imidacloprid and acetamiprid were used individually as well as in combinations of different concentrations. Maximum avoidance behavior (56.01±4.45%) was observed for acetamiprid @ 0.75 mg /kg exposure in comparison to other treatments. The observations proved toxicity of insecticides individually as well as in combination of different concentrations on survival rate, growth parameters (length and weight) and reproductive potential. Minimum number of adult earthworm and cocoon production was 18.00±1.53 &12.67±1.20 respectively in the worms exposed to imidacloprid + acetamiprid (@1.00+0.38 mg/kg on 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. There was increase in the nutrient status of vermicompost; increase of 28.76% in nitrogen, 47.57% in phosphorus and 16.20% in potassium was recorded whereas total organic carbon of vermicompost reduced (reduction of 29.19%). Significant reduction (45%) in C: N ratio after the end of experiment explains the improvement in quality of vermicompost.
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