Impact of pesticides on earthworms: Assessing the ecological cost of crop protection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29070/e4acq184Keywords:
Earthworms, Reproduction, Soil, Nutrients, BiodiversityAbstract
Earthworms are an important sign of healthy soil because of the important roles they play in breaking down organic materials, forming soil structure, and cycling nutrients. Using earthworms as a model, this study looks at the ecotoxicological effects of several pesticides on species including Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris. Many farmers rely on pesticides to safeguard their crops, yet there are serious ecological worries about the pesticides' unexpected effects on soil species that aren't intended targets. Chemical variety and environmental persistence of chemicals like synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates are highlighted in the paper, which covers the categorisation and use of pesticides in India. Topics included in the review include alterations to enzymatic activity, reproduction, and death rates in earthworm populations as well as the physiological and molecular impacts of pesticide exposure. More importantly, research highlights the critical need for immediate legislative action and new approaches to pest management in order to save soil biodiversity. Future research on safer agricultural techniques may benefit from this synthesis, which seeks to connect agricultural sustainability with soil ecotoxicology.
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