Ecotoxicity and chemical characterization of tropical soil under different periods of exposure to cattle slaughterhouse effluent

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of effluent obtained from a bovine slaughterhouse on the reproductive parameters of the springtail Folsomia candida and on the chemical properties of natural tropical soil with different application ages. The soils used for the chemical and ecotoxicological characterization tests were collected from the Mombaça grass pasture area of Chácara Malu, Gurupi, Tocantins, which belongs to the city's cattle slaughterhouse. Four pastures were subjected to four different treatments: effluent application for 5, 10, and 15 years and no effluent application (control). Soil samples were collected from three layers of depths: 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm. The experiments were performed in accordance with the ABNT NBR ISO 11267/2019 standard. Our results demonstrated that bovine slaughterhouse effluent can be used as an alternative water source and can supply macro- and micronutrients for pasture production. Additionally, the application of cattle slaughterhouse effluent for 5, 10, and 15 years remedied soil acidity, thereby increasing the pH and macro- and micronutrient contents in the soil. Furthermore, effluent treatment altered the soil's chemical properties, which in turn affected the reproduction of the springtail F. candida. Taken together, these results may facilitate the development of strategies that promote sustainable agricultural production by converting animal residues into properly managed fertilizers.