Effect of Different Cadmium Concentrations on Growth of Eisenia fetida in a Calcareous Soil

Heavy metals are entered to the environment by mining and by applying sewage sludge and agricultural inputs to soils. These metals have detrimental effects on environment and soil organisms. An experiment was conducted to determine the cadmium affects on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in a calcareous soil amended with 0 and 5% organic matter. The concentrations of Cd in soils were 0،10،20،40، 60 and 80 mg kg-1 and growth parameters of the earthworms were measured with 15 day intervals over 75 days. Survival، growth and cocoon production of earthworms were determined. The results showed that addition of organic matter to soils reduced the toxic effects of cadmium to earthworms. In soils contaminated with Cd the weights of the earthworms decreased with increasing the concentrations of this metal and cadmium had the highest negative effects on cocoon production. The highest earthworm’s mortality was recorded in soils contaminated with cadmium.