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Enzyme and Earthworm Activities during Vermicomposting of Carbaryl‐Treated Sewage Sludge
Author(s) -
Benitez E.,
Nogales R.,
Elvira C.,
Masciandaro G.,
Ceccanti B.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1999.00472425002800040006x
Subject(s) - earthworm , carbaryl , sewage sludge , chemistry , carbamate , pesticide , eisenia fetida , biomass (ecology) , sewage , environmental chemistry , biodegradation , vermicompost , organic matter , agronomy , biology , environmental engineering , environmental science , nutrient , biochemistry , organic chemistry
The feasibility of vermicomposting pesticide contaminated refuses was evaluated. A mixture of sewage sludges was amended, at a ratio of 1:1 (v/v), with a garden refuse artificially contaminated with carbaryl, a carbamate insecticide commonly used in farming and gardening. Ten clitellated earthworms were then placed in this material. We determined the evolution of earthworm ( Eisenia foetida , Savigny) biomass and changes in enzyme activities during an 18‐wk period of sewage sludge vermicomposting. The carbaryl produced a chronically toxic effect on the earthworms, measured by weight gain and sexual maturity. The growth was slower in the presence of pesticide. In addition, carbaryl treatments showed inhibited enzyme activity in the first weeks of the vermicomposting process, slowing down organic matter biodegradation. The dynamics of the vermicomposting process can be followed by combining easily detectable parameters related to the global microbial metabolism: a traditional chemical (water‐soluble C/water‐soluble N) and biochemical (dehydrogenase activity/water‐soluble C) index, were calculated. In particular, this last seemed more useful in characterizing the vermicomposting process even a longer maturation time (10–18 wk).