Potential side effects of biocontrol and plant-growth promoting Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacteria on earthworms

Abstract

After 1-2 months, survival, growth and reproduction of the earthworms were recorded. We found no effect of the treatments as compared to control without BA amendments. We conclude that the use of high doses of BA with concentrations at the same magnitude as maximally expected when the bacteria are used as PGPR and BCA, is not harmful to the soil dwelling earthworms tested in this project. Further studies of the ecological effects of PGPR and BCA bacteria on other non-target soil organisms are encouraged. The development of sustainable agricultural systems, where ecosystem services are optimized, has to be aided by a deeper knowledge of the combined effect of bacteria and earthworms on the promotion of plant health. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Growth; Reproduction; Toxicity test; Biocontrol agents

Published in

Applied Soil Ecology
2015, volume: 96, pages: 159-164

SLU Authors

• Lagerlöf, Jan

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ayuke, Fredrick

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Nairobi

• Bejai, Sarosh

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lagerquist, Elsa

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Meijer, Johan

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Söderlund, Sara

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network

Global goals (SDG)

SDG2 Zero hunger
SDG15 Life on land

UKÄ Subject classification

Microbiology
Agricultural Science
Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.08.014

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/69275