Fungicides toxic to earthworms

[kiwi]

Does anyone have experience with earthworm mortality from using Epoxiconazole?
i have been notill since 2003 full time leaving all residue on the surface and have noticed major decline in earthworms. My whole focus over that time was to build earthworm numbers and so this has been a major disappointment.
it has been brought to my attention that maybe the earthworms that drag straw into their burrows have been poisoned and then the next level down of earthworms have also been affected.
would be very interested in anyone’s else’s opinions.

 

[jack6480]

How many fungicides a year would you say you put on?

 

[Will Blackburn]

MBC fungicides I think are very toxic to worms, I remember going to the cricket club with my Dad to spray the square to prevent worm casts. I presume subsequently withdrawn for the same reason which is why I assume modern fungicides are far easier on worms. But a quick search suggests it is off putting rather than toxic.

 

[kiwi]

We usually put on 3 fungicides on wheat of which one would be Epoxiconazole in a mix but sometimes I would use it twice.
i found a research paper that says Epoxiconazole is Extremely hazardous to earthworms. Carbendazim also is hard on earthworms.
i am extremely concerned that something I am doing is fatal to my earthworms.
If I did what most farmers do here which is burn I may have been better off in terms of earthworms.

 

[Bury the Trash]

why ever would anyone think that worms and the other inhabitants of the soil would actually thrive on any sort of chemicals put on ...


Research has shown many times that a good rotation including grass type leys to build om are good for encouraging worms ,they are not gonna be impressed by all out wall to wall arable even if it is direct drilled

 

[Timbo1080]

Does anyone have experience with earthworm mortality from using Epoxiconazole?
i have been notill since 2003 full time leaving all residue on the surface and have noticed major decline in earthworms. My whole focus over that time was to build earthworm numbers and so this has been a major disappointment.
it has been brought to my attention that maybe the earthworms that drag straw into their burrows have been poisoned and then the next level down of earthworms have also been affected.
would be very interested in anyone’s else’s opinions.

Have you MEASURED a large decline in numbers? Do you know which type of worm has potentially been affected? You only need to glance at the 'No worms in DD land' thread to know that perceptions can be misleading. Not trying to be facetious, but this would be a very curious observation and one that i'd be interested to know more about. Carbendazim is horrendously toxic to earthworms, and was the chemical of choice for groundsman (Endocrine disruption i believe, but banned either way). They're looking for alternatives, so if other fungicides performed anywhere near as well in killing worms, i'm sure they would have discovered it (Whether off label or not!). Sounds like you're doing an excellent job wrt providing food and shelter for the worms....What other chemistry are you using? Any AD waste of slurry etc?

 

[SorenIlsoe]

https://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publikationer/2016/08/978-87-93283-84-8.pdf

 

[Timbo1080]

https://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publikationer/2016/08/978-87-93283-84-8.pdf

If only i could read Danish!

 

[N.Yorks.]

If only i could read Danish!

Flick through the paper to pages 10,11 & 12 - it's english and gives you the summary.

 

[yellow belly]

We usually put on 3 fungicides on wheat of which one would be Epoxiconazole in a mix but sometimes I would use it twice.
i found a research paper that says Epoxiconazole is Extremely hazardous to earthworms. Carbendazim also is hard on earthworms.
i am extremely concerned that something I am doing is fatal to my earthworms.
If I did what most farmers do here which is burn I may have been better off in terms of earthworms.

How much of a dose
direct contact or on residue ect

we have used a lot of epoxiconozole since it was available but aplied in spring to the leaves
not noticed a difference between fields from crops with out it
we still have more worms Deep burrowing worms than on any Cultivated fields neighbouring
Imho
for big deepburrowing worms

the more straw returned the more worms
the more muck the/ more worms
less disturbance in wetter years is also important as the in dry years they are below cultivation depth
although they do have to restablish their hole when they are destroyed by 8 inches of max tillage
then when they get to the top they find no debris to pull in

my theory is that burning and notill in the 1970s starved the worms
no till with ground cover and crop debris gives them shelter and food