Agricultural Practices Explain Pesticide Residues in Soil and Earthworms.

Pesticides are integral to mainstream agriculture. Consequently, many non-target organisms that rely on agricultural landscapes may be exposed to them. Vertebrate non-target species can be exposed to pesticides via their food webs that may include soil and soil-dwelling organisms, like earthworms. Despite long-term and widespread use, direct links between agricultural practices and pesticide exposure in soil organisms remain understudied. This study screened for 648 current-use pesticides and quantified their presence in soils and earthworm samples derived from farmlands in southwest Friesland, the Netherlands. In June-July 2020, twenty-six fields representing a gradient from intensive to extensive management were sampled (four bulb, seven corn, eight grassland and seven old-grassland). Historic land-use and management practices were reconstructed through interviews. Insecticides were rarely detected. Fungicide concentrations were highest in bulb field soils, while the herbicide metabolite terbuthylazine-2-hydroxy dominated corn field soils. Grassland soils revealed elevated fungicide levels corresponding with past bulb cultivation, indicating their long-term persistence in soil. Bulb field soils were associated with prothioconazole-desthio, metolachlor, and metamitron, whereas corn field soils were associated with foramsulfuron, fluroxypyr-1-methylheptylester, and fluroxypyr. Bixafen was associated with old-grassland soils. Pesticide profiles in earthworms were generally consistent with those observed in soil. A strong positive relationship between soil concentrations and the likelihood of earthworm pesticide detection indicates that soil exposure is a key driver of pesticide concentrations in earthworms. These results demonstrate that crop type and management practices structure pesticide profiles in soil and earthworms, indicating that earthworm-consuming wildlife may consequently be exposed to these compounds through their diet.

Centre for global ecological change at the University of Groningen

BirdEyes is a science and creative centre that views the world - almost literally - through the eyes of birds. More and more birds are flying around with tiny transmitters, loggers and other high technology on their backs and legs. This generates an unimaginable amount of information. By cleverly combining such data with other sources of information, and by using new ways to tell stories and share the insights with, BirdEyes strives to open up a new knowledge network. The centre at the Faculties of Science & Engineering and Campus Fryslân aims to be an innovative part of the University of Groningen and is linked to the Rudolph Agricola School for Sustainable Development. BirdEyes, with empirical and inspirational roots in the farthest corners of the world.

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