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Theresia Widhalm. Foto.

Theresia Krausl

Doctoral student

Theresia Widhalm. Foto.

Single and Combined Effects of Pesticide Seed Dressings and Herbicides on Earthworms, Soil Microorganisms, and Litter Decomposition

Author

  • Willem Van Hoesel
  • Alexandra Tiefenbacher
  • Nina König
  • Verena M. Dorn
  • Julia F. Hagenguth
  • Urša Prah
  • Theresia Widhalm
  • Viktoria Wiklicky
  • Robert Koller
  • Michael Bonkowski
  • Jan Lagerlöf
  • Andreas Ratzenböck
  • Johann G. Zaller
Show all

Summary, in English

Seed dressing, i.e., the treatment of crop seeds with insecticides and/or fungicides, aiming to protect seeds from pests and diseases, is widely used in conventional agriculture. During the growing season, those crop fields often receive additional broadband herbicide applications. However, despite this broad utilization, very little is known on potential side effects or interactions between these different pesticide classes on soil organisms. In a greenhouse pot experiment, we studied single and interactive effects of seed dressing of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. Capo) with neonicotinoid insecticides and/or strobilurin and triazolinthione fungicides and an additional one-time application of a glyphosate-based herbicide on the activity of earthworms, soil microorganisms, litter decomposition, and crop growth. To further address food-web interactions, earthworms were introduced to half of the experimental units as an additional experimental factor. Seed dressings significantly reduced the surface activity of earthworms with no difference whether insecticides or fungicides were used. Moreover, seed dressing effects on earthworm activity were intensified by herbicides (significant herbicide × seed dressing interaction). Neither seed dressings nor herbicide application affected litter decomposition, soil basal respiration, microbial biomass, or specific respiration. Seed dressing did also not affect wheat growth. We conclude that interactive effects on soil biota and processes of different pesticide classes should receive more attention in ecotoxicological research.

Publishing year

2017

Language

English

Publication/Series

Frontiers in Plant Science

Volume

8

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Frontiers Media S. A.

Keywords

  • agrochemicals
  • agroecology
  • neonicotinoids
  • non-target effects
  • pesticide
  • seed coatings
  • soil organisms
  • glyphosate-herbicide

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1664-462X