Herbicide toxicity in Eisenia fetida: Ecotoxicological insights for sustainable agriculture

Abstract:

Earthworms, particularly Eisenia fetidaare keystone species in terrestrial ecosystems and serve as sensitive bioindicators of soil contamination. Their ecological functions in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and organic matter decomposition are increasingly threatened by intensive herbicide use in modern agriculture. This review synthesizes current toxicological findings on herbicides such as Pretilachlor, Bispyribac Sodium, Glyphosate and atrazine, highlighting both lethal and sub‑lethal impacts. Acute toxicity studies reveal concentration dependent mortality, with LC50 values varying across herbicides and exposure conditions. Sub lethal endpoints, including morpho behavioral alterations, oxidative stress induction, enzymatic inhibition, and reproductive decline, provide early warning signals of ecological imbalance. Environmental factors such as soil pH, organic matter, and moisture further modulate herbicide persistence and toxicity, underscoring the complexity of risk assessment. Mixture toxicity studies demonstrate antagonistic and synergistic interactions, emphasizing the need for biomarker based monitoring. The review concludes that sustainable weed management requires integrated strategies, reduced chemical inputs, and promotion of organic alternatives. Future perspectives call for interdisciplinary research combining ecotoxicology, soil microbiology and omics technologies to develop holistic models of herbicide fate and impact. These insights are critical for balancing agricultural productivity with ecological integrity and ensuring long term soil health.