Ecotoxicological assessment of the effect of some new organic-mineral fertilizers on Eisenia foetida earthworms

Ecotoxicity tests provide a direct measure of the bioavailability of toxicants and help to establish linkages between site contamination and adverse ecological effects. There are more current laboratory test methods outlined, but it is very important the major advantages/disadvantages of each of them. The present paper uses as research methodology the OECD Guideline for testing of chemicals no. 207 which meets the most criteria expected for ecotoxicological testing. Earthworms Eisenia foetida (Savigny, 1826) had been exposed for 14 days to a geometrical series range of concentrations of the test substances (organic-mineral fertilizers L-200-Hum and SH-120). The performed study showed that the fertilizer L-200-Hum determined lower earthworm mortality comparing to SH-120 for all tested concentration levels and the fertilizer L-200-Hum positively influenced the earthworm rate of biomass accumulation. DL 50 it was established to be the concentration 4 g for the SH-120 fertilizer at the end of the test (14 days)

Organic agriculture of Romania as compared with other countries of European Union

The paper presents a case study aiming to highlight the present state of the organic agriculture in Romania as compared with other European countries with the goal to warn about its level, much under other countries taken in study. Several indicators have been considered: certified organic crop areas, certified organic crop productions and yields from fully converted areas, certified organic livestock, certified production of organic animal products, number of certified registered operators processing and importing products issued from organic farming. The results of study showed that for all studied indicators Romania reported data with lower values as compared with the other analyzed European states, and for most of items our country has no data to report. This study distinguishes on the one hand the low representation of organic agriculture in Romania as component of sustainable agriculture, and on the other hand demonstrates the lack or the inefficacy of instruments of the specialized institution of the Romanian state to collect and centralize data referring to several items which characterize the level of organic agriculture in Romania

Research of physical-mechanical properties of soil related to earthworms abundance in agricultural and background agroecosystems at Didactic and Experimental Station "Chetrosu", Republic of Moldova

Within agroecological monitoring, an essential role is played by the biological monitoring, because surveillance of living organisms provides precious information regarding the vitality of agroecosystems and quality of environmental factors, essential for the quality of agricultural products and natural resources. The goal of earthworms’ complex research is establishment of the high efficient agrocoenoses, ecologically balanced, stable, based on the rational usage of the nutritive substances of soil, vegetable rests, water, and finally the application of environment-friendly technologies. From this point of view, earthworms can be used within the agroecological monitoring, because they can be easily extracted from their environment without affecting the population assembly. Essential for earthworms’ habitat is soil texture and soil humidity, physical-mechanical properties, organic debris, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The soil of the researched ecosystems was represented by calcic (carbonated) silt loamy chernozem. The limits of plasticity, resistance to penetration, and adherence of soil are influenced by humus content, fertilization type, and diversity of agrocoenoses. The forest strip and fallow farmland can contribute by providing with information the Database of background and agroecological (impact) monitoring. During the droughty seasons, earthworms were not found in soil, but a maximal number has been identified in forest strip (76 worms/m2 ) at 0-30 cm depth, which represents a hiding habitat during the arid periods