Earthworms to assess the innocuousness of spent biomixtures employed for glyphosate degradation

CAROLINA ELISABET MASIN; MAIA LESCANO; ALBA RUT RODRÍGUEZ; JOSÉ LUIS GODOY; CRISTINA ZALAZAR

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART B - PESTICIDES, FOOD CONTAMINANTS, AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

Año: 2018

0360-1234

In this study, the innocuousness of different biomixtures employed for glyphosate degradation was tested through Eisenia fetida earthworms. Eight biomixtures were prepared with local materials of Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Spent biomixtures (biomixtures that have been used for decontamination purposes) could be considered as hazardous wastes which should be correctly treated. A simple bioassay was performed when all biomixtures have reached high percentages of glyphosate degradation. The results allowed the identification of three suitable biomixtures for safe maintenance and development of E. fetida. Studied parameters on viable biomixtures (adult weight change, fecundity, viability and juvenile weight) were also compared with those obtained from a reference soil. At the end of the bioassay the performance of juvenile earthworms was higher in two viable biomixtures in comparison with the reference soil. Principal Component Analysis indicates that biomixtures containing high silt and clay percentages and minor density renders higher values of earthworm growth and reproduction. Therefore, they could be used as organic amendments or recycled materials for new treatments on biobeds being vermicomposting an efficient technology to decontaminate spent biomixtures.