Over the past two decades, pesticide use has increased globally, with over 91% of crops in the EU being treated. While pesticides improve crop yields, they also pose environmental risks. They can affect non-target plants by inhibiting germination, suppressing growth, and impairing photosynthesis. Pesticide drift, runoff, and soil contamination may expose wild plant communities to sublethal concentrations, potentially disrupting biodiversity and ecosystem stability. This study examined the effects of commonly used pesticides in European agriculture on non-target plant species. Six active ingredients—acetamiprid, pirimicarb, glyphosate, fluroxypyr, azoxystrobin, and tebuconazole—were tested individually and in mixtures at realistic field concentrations. Toxicity was assessed in Sinapis alba, Lepidium sativum, and Sorghum saccharatum. Results showed that fluroxypyr (a herbicide) was consistently the most phytotoxic compound. All tested pesticide mixtures produced stronger phytotoxic effects than their components. Among the three models used to predict mixture toxicity—additive, dominance, and multiplicative—the additive model most accurately reflected the observed responses, assuming that the total effect equals the sum of the effects of individual substances. However, the model did not fully explain the enhanced toxicity observed in certain combinations, suggesting potential synergistic interactions. These findings underscore the need for further research on the ecological impact of pesticide mixtures. Graphical Abstract

Eisenia fetidais an earthworm species often used to assess the toxicity of contaminants in soils. Several studies indicated that its response can be unpredictable because it depends both on total concentrations of contaminants and also on their forms that differ in susceptibility to be released from soil solid phase. The issue is complex because two various uptake routes are concurrently involved, dermal and ingestion in guts, where the bioavailability of contaminants can considerably change. The aim of this study was to analyze the toxicity of arsenic (As) in various strongly contaminated meadow and forest soils, representative for former As mining and processing area, to earthwormsE. fetidaand its accumulation in their bodies. An attempt was made to find relationships between the response of earthworms and chemical extractability of As. In the bioassay, carried out according to the standard ISO protocol, different endpoints were applied: earthworm survival, fecundity measured by the numbers of juveniles and cocoons, earthworm weight and As accumulation in the bodies. The results proved thatE. fetidacan tolerate extremely high total As concentrations in soils, such as 8000 mg/kg, however, the individual endpoints were not correlated and showed different patterns. The most sensitive one was the number of juveniles. No particular soil factor was identified that would indicate an exceptionally high As susceptibility to the release from one of soils, however, we have demonstrated that the sum of non-specifically and specifically bound As (i.e. fractions F1 + F2 in sequential extraction according to Wenzel) could be a good chemical indicator of arsenic toxicity to soil invertebrates.

The sensitivity to thiacloprid and lambda-cyhalothrin ingested from prey organisms was studied in Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis, since the effect of ingestion exposure to these insecticides is unknown in these species. All developmental stages of the ladybirds were fed on Acyrthosiphon pisum treated with half or full field rate of the insecticides. Almost all instars were killed within 3 h of the start of ingestion of lambda-cyhalotrin-treated prey. The action of thiacloprid was more extended in time in both coccinellids and more variable between their instars. Reducing the field rate of lambda-cyhalothrin seems to have no practical value for the survival of either of the coccinellid species. Contrastingly, using half instead of the full field rate of thiacloprid may enhance the chances of survival in L1, L2, and L4 larvae of both species. Of all developmental stages tested, the survival dynamics of the adults of either species are closest to one another, whereas the apparent difference in the species response to the dose rate of thiacloprid was found in the L4 stage.

Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea Aiton) is a highly invasive species in Europe (e.g., Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic) whose secondary metabolites can serve as potential sources of bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile of S. gigantea extracts and evaluated their antibacterial, insecticidal, and phytotoxic activities. The extracts were found to be rich in flavonoids (TFC = 101 mg QE/g) and phenolics (TPC = 175 mg GAE/g), with chlorogenic acid and rutin as dominant constituents. Strong antibacterial activity was observed against Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus spp. (MIC₉₀ = 2.3 mg/mL; MBC = 5 mg/mL), while Gram-negative bacteria were less sensitive, with moderate susceptibility in Rhizobium radiobacter and Pseudomonas syringae. The extract exhibited fungistatic activity against all tested filamentous fungi, with Fusarium species being the most sensitive (49–56% growth inhibition at 10 mg/mL). Insecticidal assays demonstrated significant mortality of Tribolium confusum adults at 2.5–7.0 mg/mL and feeding inhibition at concentrations as low as 0.5 mg/mL. Seedling growth tests showed dose-dependent effects—from mild suppression to moderate stimulation, varying by plant species. Foliar application revealed both stimulatory and inhibitory effects, with the strongest biomass reduction in cress at 10 mg/mL (−45%). These findings indicate that S. gigantea extracts possess potent antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, and allelopathic activities. Their concentration-dependent effects on pathogens and plants highlight potential applications in sustainable agriculture, including natural crop protection and integrated pest management.

Changes in crop seeding density may affect the presence of phytophagous organisms, whose development is closely associated with host plants. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the abundance and species composition of thrips (Thysanoptera) collected in soybean plants of two different varieties cultivated in different plant arrangements (row spacing, seed density) at different phenological stages. The research was carried out at two locations in southwest Poland between 2015 and 2018. The herbivores that inhabited the plants were caught using an entomological net. The experiments were conducted using a complete block design with four replications. A total of 20 species of thrips were identified and their dietary specialization was determined with an emphasis on the possibility of feeding on Fabaceae plants. Thrips tabaci, Aeolothrips intermedius, and T. fuscipes were the dominant species within the collected material. The general linear model revealed no significant changes in the number of thrips caused by the row spacing, seed density or soybean variety. The significant factor was the phenological stage. The number of thrips increased significantly during the flowering period and shortly after flowering, making them an important threat to the plants. Therefore, it is crucial to develop innovative pest management strategies tailored to effective soybean cultivation to mitigate potential pest-related challenges.

Ground cover plants in orchards can effectively improve soil quality. One factor determin­ing soil health is the presence of fauna, including mesofauna, which play a crucial role in soil ecosystems. However, the relationship between ground cover and Collembola assemblages in orchards remains underexplored. This study investigated how different ground cover plants sown in rows of apple trees influence the abundance and diversity of Collembola. Conducted at the Research Station of Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland, the experiment utilized three cover species: Tagetes patula, Festuca ovina, and Agrostis capillaris, with fallow plots serving as control samples. Soil samples were collected over 2 years (2015–2016) to assess springtails richness and species composition. Results indicated that springtails were significantly more abundant in soils managed with ground cover plants than in conventionally managed fallow stands. Notably, the highest mean Collembola numbers were recorded in strips planted with T. patula and F. ovina. The springtail communities were primarily dominant in each of the treatments by two eudaphic species, Mesaphorura macrochaeta and Hypogastrura assimilis. These findings underscore the importance of cover crops in sustainable agriculture by reducing herbicide reliance, enhancing soil aeration, improving soil fertility through organic matter, and fostering biodiversity of soil biota.