Title: Assessment of ammonium hydroxide effect on Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826): acute toxicity and avoidance tests

Authors: Nadia Zeguerrou; Rachid Adjroudi; Abdelkrim Si Bachir; Mohamed El Hadef El Okki

Addresses: Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Mustapha Ben Boulaid-Batna 2-University, 53, Route of Constantine, Fesdis, Batna, 05078, Algeria ' Department of Agronomy, Institute of Veterinary and Agronomical Sciences, Hadj Lakhdar-Batna 1-University, Route of Biskra, Batna, 05000, Algeria ' Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Mustapha Ben Boulaid-Batna 2-University, 53, Route of Constantine, Fesdis, Batna, 05078, Algeria ' Institute of Nutrition, Food and Agri-Food, Mentouri Brothers University of Constantine 1, BP 325, Route of Ain El Bey, Constantine, 25017, Algeria

Abstract: In this study, acute toxicity and avoidance tests were conducted to assess the effect of ammonium hydroxide 'AH' on the brandling worm Eisenia fetida (Annelida: Lumbricidae). Adults' earthworms were exposed to an increasing concentration of AH (0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg.cm⁻²) for contact filter paper test and (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5 mg.g¹ of soil) for soil and avoidance tests. Our results show that AH caused a high mortality rate and a decrease in biomass according to the increase of concentrations and exposure time, causing some physiological symptoms (bleeding and burns) and behavioural responses. The LC₅₀ calculated for contact filter paper test after 48 h was 1.01 mg.cm⁻² and 1.05 mg.g⁻¹ for soil test after 14th days. Moreover, the EC₅₀ obtained in avoidance test was 0.05 mg.g⁻¹, this means that the earthworms were able to immediately detect low concentration of AH in soils, avoiding it.

Keywords: ammonium hydroxide; Eisenia fetida; acute toxicity; avoidance; mortality; biomass; earthworms; poultry droppings; ammonia deposition; contact filter paper test; soil test.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2019.099798

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2019 Vol.15 No.1, pp.27 - 44

Received: 19 Mar 2018
Accepted: 17 Jan 2019
Published online: 22 May 2019 *

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