Individual and Combined Toxicity of Chromium and Remilitine Fungicide on The Growth of Earthworm, Eisenia fetida

Abstract

Earthworms are a type of invertebrates that contributes to the growth of plants and fertility improvement of soil. Remilitine fungicide is commonly used by farmers in agriculture in the Benghazi region, whereas Chromium is one of the main soil pollutants, however, more studies are needed concerning its toxicity in soil organisms. Consequently, chromium was selected to be used in this research. Along with Remilitine fungicide and Chromium as well as Remilitine fungicide separately and in combination the body growth of the earthworm, Eisenia fetida in the laboratory. All worms were adults and fully clitellated. The adult worms were exposed to 70 days of sublethal concentration of Remilitine500ppm and Chromium200 ppm as well as the mixture of Remilitine -Chromium (200+ 500ppm). The worms of control treatment reported significantly greater body weight (F= 5.4, P < 0.05), as compared to that of Remiltine treated worms Furthermore, significant differences in worm were also revealed body weight between the control and chromium treated worms after 70 days (F=10.33, P<0.05). These results also reveal statistically significant differences in body weight between the Remilitine -chromium mixture and the control (F=14.57 P<0.05). From these results, it is concluded that the interaction type of Chromium and Remilitine combined toxicity is antagonistic.