Ref ID : 6072
J.A. Springett and R.A.J. Gray; Effect of repeated low doses of biocides on the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa in laboratory culture. Soil Biol.Biochem. 24(12):1739-1744, 1992
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The growth rates of Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) were measured over a 100-day period in soil in culture chambers which were treated with common biocides singly and in combination. The biocides used were: the fungicide Captan, the herbicide, Glyphosate and the insecticide, Azinphos-methyl. The biocides were applied at intervals of 14 days and each treatment was replicated six times. The results are variable, all biocides depressed growth when applied alone but some combinations reduced the effect of other biocides. Azinphos-methyl and Glyphosate applied alone, reduced growth the most over the 100 days and at all rates of application. Azinphos-methyl applied at the highest rate killed worms. Captan applied alone had the least effect on growth and mortality. In combination, Glyphosate and Captan had a lesser effect than Glyphosate alone. Azinphos-methyl and Captan had less effect than Azinphos-methyl alone. After 100 days the combination of all three biocides reduced growth to the same degree as Glyphosate alone.