Pesticide residues alter taxonomic and functional biodiversity in soils

Summary

This large-scale European study examined pesticide effects on soil biodiversity across 373 sites in 26 countries, detecting residues in 70% of locations. Pesticides emerged as the second strongest driver of soil biodiversity patterns after soil properties, with widespread non-target effects including suppression of beneficial fungi and nematodes, and altered microbial functions in nutrient cycling. The findings emphasise the necessity of integrating taxonomic and functional biodiversity assessments into pesticide risk evaluation frameworks to protect soil ecosystem functioning.

UK applicability

These findings are directly relevant to UK agricultural and woodland soils, where pesticide residues are similarly widespread. The study's emphasis on integrating functional biodiversity into risk assessment has implications for UK pesticide regulation, environmental monitoring, and sustainable farming policy.

Key measures

Taxonomic biodiversity of soil archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists, nematodes, and arthropods; functional gene groups related to phosphorus and nitrogen cycling; prevalence and concentration of 63 pesticide residues across sites

Outcomes reported

The study quantified the effects of 63 pesticides on multiple soil organism groups (archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists, nematodes, arthropods) and functional gene groups across 373 European sites. Pesticide residues were detected in 70% of sites and were identified as the second strongest driver of soil biodiversity patterns, with organism- and function-specific effects on nutrient cycling and beneficial taxa.

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