Earthworms and glyphosate herbicides

A new study published by Water, Air and Soil Pollution asserts that glyphosate herbicides such as Roundup, have lethal consequenses on earthworms and common microflora in the soil. A control group and normal posted use herbicide and a double dose of herbicide were tested. Earthworm adults were randomly assigned to glyphosate treatments. In the two glyphosate treated plots showed that the two herbicide treated plots showed negative growth rates of the earthworms however, the control group was not negatively effected. The results show that even though the manufacturer of glyphosate fertilizers tell the public that the product goes inert as soon at it reaches the soil, this is not the case. It continues to have a negative impact on soil microflora and thus reduces the fertility of the soil.