Toxicity of selenate and selenite to the potworm Enchytraeus albidus (Annelida: Enchytraeidae): a laboratory test.

Little information is available about the toxicity of inorganic selenium forms in soil animals. Therefore, the effects of selenate and selenite on the mortality and reproduction of Enchytraeus albidus were examined in standard laboratory tests with chronic exposure. Total and available amount of selenate and selenite were tested in a calcareous loamy chernozem soil.

Leaching of microelement contaminants: a long-term field study.

A field experiment with microelement loads was set up on loamy textured, calcareous chernozem soil formed on loess. The ploughed layer contained ca. 5% CaCO3 and 3% humus.

Effects of microelements on soil nematode assemblages seven years after contaminating an agricultural field.

Long-term effects of Cd, Cr, Cu, Se and Zn were studied 7 years after artificially contaminating plots of an agricultural field on a calcareous chernozem soil. Effects of three to four different contamination levels (originally 10, 30, 90 and 270 mg kg(-1)) were studied. Nematode density was significantly reduced by 90 and 270 mg kg(-1) Se as well as by 270 mg kg(-1) Cr, while 90 and 270 mg kg(-1) Se also reduced nematode generic richness.

Long-term effects of heavy metals and microelements on nematode assemblage.

Effects of Cd, Cr, Se and Zn at a maximum rate of 270 mg kg(-1) were studied on a nematode assemblage after 6-10 years of application. Winter wheat, sunflower, sorrel, barley and rape were grown on the experimental field. Cd had a moderate effect on nematodes in spite of the fact that this element significantly decreased plant biomass.