Double Trouble: How Urea and Glyphosate Mix Affects Earthworms

Earthworms play a big role in keeping soil healthy. But what happens when they're exposed to common farm chemicals like glyphosate and urea? A recent study looked into this and found some concerning results. First, it's important to know that glyphosate is a widely used herbicide. Urea, on the other hand, is a common nitrogen fertilizer. These two chemicals are often used together in farming, but their combined effect on earthworms was not well understood until now. The study focused on two types of earthworms: Eisenia fetida and Metaphire guillelmi. These worms were exposed to different combinations of glyphosate and urea for 28 days. The results showed that when both chemicals were used together, the worms had more glyphosate in their guts. This led to some serious health issues. For instance, the worms lost weight, their intestines got damaged, and their digestive enzymes became less active. The combination also messed up their gut bacteria, increasing the levels of harmful bacteria like Proteobacteria. This is a big deal because these bacteria are linked to inflammation. Interestingly, the two types of worms reacted differently. Eisenia fetida showed more signs of oxidative damage and problems with energy metabolism. On the other hand, Metaphire guillelmi had more issues with their intestinal tissue and gut bacteria. The study also used a special method called partial least-squares path modeling to figure out how the chemicals were causing these problems. For Eisenia fetida, the main issue was oxidative damage. For Metaphire guillelmi, it was increased intestinal permeability. This research highlights the risks of using glyphosate and urea together. It also shows that different species of earthworms can react differently to these chemicals. This is important for understanding how these chemicals affect the environment and for making better decisions in farming.