Is Rockwool Potentially Harmful to the Soil Environment as a Nursery Substrate? Taking Eisenia fetida as an Example for Toxicological Analysis

Shengyang Zheng, Chenzhe Wang, Jing Ju (), Qigen Dai, Haitao Zhao, Ping Liu and Xin Wang
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Shengyang Zheng: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Chenzhe Wang: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Jing Ju: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Qigen Dai: Joint International Research Laboratory Agricultural & Agricultural Product Safety, Ministry Education China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Haitao Zhao: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Ping Liu: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Xin Wang: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: We studied the effect of rockwool matrix on the conventional physical and chemical properties of soil and analyzed its toxicological effect on Eisenia fetida . The physical and chemical properties of rockwool were studied with characterization tests. By measuring earthworm enzymes and earthworm intestinal microorganisms, the effects of different rockwool particle sizes and additive amount on Eisenia fetida were analyzed. The results indicate that a low concentration of rockwool (<30 g/kg) had little effect on the soil physicochemical properties and the activity of Eisenia fetida , and played a positive role in improving the soil porosity. A high concentration of rockwool (>100 g/kg) reduced the exchangeable Ca and Mg content in the soil, and had a significant impact on the enzyme activity of Eisenia fetida . Mechanism studies have shown that high concentrations of rockwool (>200 g/kg) can have a significant impact on the nervous system of earthworm tissue. In addition, small particle size and low concentration of rockwool is conducive to the increase in intestinal microbial species of Eisenia fetida . This study clarifies the effects of emerging rockwool substrates on soil and soil organisms and provides theoretical support for the safe and reliable application of rockwool substrates in agricultural production.

Keywords: rockwool; substrate; earthworm; soil; toxicology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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