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Because of the numerous ecosystem services provided by soil, such as elemental cycling, food production, and water filtration and storage, this resource requires special protection to maintain total efficiency of these services. However, standard agricultural practices can have a degrading effect, not only on the physical and chemical properties of soil, but may also threaten soil invertebrate communities. Soil macrofauna, and earthworms in particular, play a critical role in soil ecosystems because their activities affect the availability of nutrients for plants, shape soil structure, and significantly impact organic matter dynamics. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of two systems used in plant cultivation (no-dig and conventional digging). Both used vermicompost as an organic fertilizer and looked at selected characteristics of Lumbricidae groupings and the dynamics of selected soil physicochemical properties. This study was conducted over three years in the same area to ensure that the soil characteristics were the same. The NDG (no-dig) and DG (conventional digging) sites were prepared as appropriate with a perennial hay meadow (MW) used as a control site. An electrical extraction (octet) method was used to collect earthworms. The same six species of earthworm were found at each site: Dendrodrilus rubidus (Sav.), Lumbricus rubellus (Hoff.), Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.), Aporrectodea rosea (Sav.), Octolasion lacteum (Örley), and Lumbricus terrestris (L.). Earthworm abundance and biomass were found to be significantly higher at the NDG site compared to DG (NDG > DG; abundance by 24% (p < 0.05), biomass by 22% (p < 0.05)). No significant differences between NDG and MW were shown. Moisture, temperature, and soil organic carbon content likely influenced the abundance and biomass of Lumbricidae. The NDG site showed significantly higher organic carbon and moisture content and significantly lower temperatures than the DG site. The average number of earthworms damaged by digging was 0.85 ind. m−2, but did not significantly affect the other results. Overall, NDG is preferable to DG for enhancing the earthworm and physicochemical parameters of soil.

Biomass is one of the most significant renewable energy sources. Doubts arise from large-area plantations of energy monocultures, which can lead to the depletion of, and a decrease in, soil biodiversity. Community association analyses of Lumbricidae may help to indicate environmental change. Therefore, the study objectives were to determine the qualitative and quantitative diversity of Lumbricids in plantations of energy crops—basket willow (Salix viminalis L.), foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa Steud.), and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.)—by investigating the following cultivation treatments: SV and SVSS—S. viminalis without (w/o) and with the addition of sewage sludge to the soil (+SS); PT and PTSS—P. tomentosaw/o and + SS; RP and RPSS—R. pseudoacaciaw/o and +SS; and MW—meadow community. A significantly higher density (p < 0.05) and biomass (p < 0.05) of earthworms were found in the SV and SVSS plantations than in other sites. The application of sewage sludge contributed to a significant increase in the mean number and biomass of all Lumbricids within cultivations of S. viminalis and R. pseudoacacia, which were significantly higher than those in the control site. This work suggests that woody energy crop production with an appropriate selection of plants and fertilisation can be a favourable habitat for the development of earthworm populations.

A properly conducted vermicomposting process is an environmentally friendly technology used to transform selected organic waste into vermicompost. This organic fertilizer is increasingly used in agriculture and horticulture as an alternative to mineral fertilizers. Research has investigated the use of vermicompost made from the waste mass of sugar beet pulp as a soil additive in the cultivation of peas (Pisum sativum L.). Experimentally, five treatments consisted of: a heavy clay soil as control (SL); the same soil with 10, 25, and 50% substitution of vermicompost, (V10, V25, and V50, respectively); and a standard peat-based horticulture substrate (GS) for comparison. Analyzed pea characteristics and the content of macro and microelements in their biomass were most favorably influenced by 25 and 50% vermicompost addition, and the values obtained were similar to those in the GS treatment. The lowest values of analyzed traits for P. sativum were found in the SL group. Thus, appropriate addition of vermicompost in the construction of plant growing substrates can reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers and be an alternative to peat in the medium, contributing to reduced use of this valuable environmental resource.

Vermicomposting is a method that allows for the environmentally friendly management of plant organic waste through the activity of concentrated earthworm populations. As a result of an appropriately conducted process, it is possible to obtain a valuable organic fertilizer, abundant in nutrients for plants as well as the development of a favorable (qualitatively and quantitatively) earthworm population structure. This paper presents the results of the vermicomposting process of waste plant mass with the use of vermireactors with different designs. In conventional no protective substrate (NPS) vermireactors, plant waste was the only habitat for earthworms, whilst protective substrate (PS) vermireactors also had a medium to shield the earthworm population in the event of the accidental introduction of toxic waste to these invertebrates. A positive effect of the PS vermireactor construction in the protection of an earthworm population against the potential use of stressful waste was found, as populations of Eisenia fetida were monitored and the development was noted during the vermicomposting with both methods. The largest differences between the populations (PS vs. NPS vermireactors) were demonstrated after 40 and 50 days and related to the number of immature animals (PS > NPS by 30.7%; p < 0.05) and cocoons (PS > NPS by 34.8%; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the PS and NPS in the biomass of immature E. fetida and cocoons. The vermicomposts obtained were not significantly different form each other but they were characterized by a higher content of C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg compared to the initial waste biomass. Contents of Cu, Mn, Zn, Cd and Pb in vermicomposts did not prevent their use as fertilizers.

The larvae of ermine moths from the Yponomeutidae family (Lepidoptera) feed on a range of species and varieties of fruit and ornamental trees. Some species of this family pose a serious threat to the environment, mainly because of the significant defoliation they cause but also due to the widespread use of insecticides used to control them. This study was designed to assess the sensitivity of Yponomeuta padella and Yponomeuta cagnagella larvae and pupae to a native strain of Steinernema feltiae ZAG15 nematodes under laboratory conditions and to test the biological activity of these nematodes against the larvae and pupae of these species in field studies. The following doses were used in the laboratory tests: 50 IJs/insect (Petri dish tests) and 100 IJs/insect (container tests). Petri dish and container tests were performed at 20 °C and 60% humidity. Mortality of two stages (larvae and pupae) was determined 3 days after treatment. In the field trials, the nematodes were applied at the following doses: 4000 IJs/web for the caterpillars of Y. padella and Y. cagnagella and 1000 IJs/web for the pupae of Y. padella and Y. cagnagella (this corresponded to approximately 200 IJs/insect). Nematodes were applied using a 1 L hand sprayer and a lance. The efficacy of the application was assessed after seven days. The results of our study showed that the larvae (81.7%) and pupae (88.3%) of Y. padella had a greater susceptibility to entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) than those of Y. cagnagella (50% and 33.3%, respectively). However, our promising laboratory results did not translate into results in field trials, where the application of EPNs proved to be ineffective.

The largest group of cabbage plant pests are the species in the owlet moth family (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the most dangerous species of which is the cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae L.). In cases of heavy infestation by this insect, the surface of plants may be reduced to 30%, with a main yield loss of 10–15%. The aim of the present study was to assess the susceptibility of M. brassicae larvae to nine native nematode isolates of the species Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) and Heterorhabditis megidis Poinar, Jackson and Klein under laboratory conditions. The most pathogenic strains were S. feltiae K11, S. feltiae K13, S. feltiae ZAG11, and S. feltiae ZWO21, which resulted in 100% mortality at a temperature of 22 °C and a dosage of 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/larva. The least effective was H. megidis Wispowo, which did not exceed 35% mortality under any experimental condition. For most strains, there were significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in the mortality for dosages between 25 IJs and 50 IJs, and between 25 IJs and 100 IJs, at a temperature of 22 °C. Statistical analysis of the effect of temperature on mortality showed that only strain H. megidis Wipsowo exhibited significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) when applied at dosages of 50 IJs and 100 IJs.