Latest Publications
Monitoring the effects of pesticide pellets to address farmers' concerns on soil fauna, specifically earthworms
I. Dummett, C. J. Sturrock, J. L. Stroud
We received multiple requests from farmers in 2018 for research into the impact of slug pellets on earthworms because they had been told that ferric-based pellets were ‘worm-friendly’. We measured soil fauna feeding activities within Lumbricus terrestris middens on a replicated field plot experiment comparing the recommended product rates of a metaldehyde (4%) based or ferric phosphate EDDS (3%) based slug pellets. Our results suggest an avoidance behaviour response. A consultation with farmers (n=68) rated this information service as useful and indicated widespread interest in minimizing the effects of pesticides on non-target soil fauna.