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Research article2015Peer reviewedOpen access

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

Lagerlof J, Ayuke F, Bejai S, Jorge G, Lagerqvist E, Meijer J, Muturi JJ, Soderlund S

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

              • Associated SLU-program

              SLU Plant Protection Network

              Sustainable Development Goals

              Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
              End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

              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