Abstract
Despite their effectiveness in eliminating weeds, herbicides can indirectly and directly affect organisms, leading to a decline in species abundance as well as disruptions to the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Boxer 800 EC, whose active ingredient is prosulfocarb, is an active herbicide commonly used for weed control, but its potential ecological risks are not well understood. With this in mind, a study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of sodium alginate and sodium polyacrylate in restoring homeostasis to soil exposed to Boxer 800 EC herbicide. This involved a two-factor pot experiment: factor I-herbicide dose (0.0, 0.8, 4.8, and 48.0 mg kg(-1) d.m.); factor II-polymer type (soil with the polymer additives sodium alginate, and sodium polyacrylate). The experiment was carried out on Eutric Cambisols with four replicates and lasted for 50 days. The test plant was Triticum aestivum L., cultivar "KWS Dorium C1". The contaminant herbicide doses inhibited the proliferation of organotrophic bacteria and actinobacteria and reduced the colony development index (CD) and ecophysiological diversity index (EP) values for these microorganisms. The addition of sodium alginate to the soil increased the proliferation of these microorganisms, whereas sodium polyacrylate inhibited their development. Sodium alginate also increased the colony development index value of organotrophic bacteria and actinobacteria. Across all the analyzed factors, bacteria from the phylum Proteobacteriota dominated. However, the presence of herbicides and polymers changed the abundance of these bacteria. Bacteria of the genus Sphingomonas were the most prevalent genus in the samples. The herbicide Boxer 800 EC exerted a toxic effect on the growth and development of spring wheat, which was reflected in the plant biomass yield (shoot and ear) and the SPAD index. The recommended herbicide dose (0.80 mg kg(-1)) did not cause significant changes in the growth and development of spring wheat. The hydrogel control additives deepened the negative effect of the herbicide on plant development. While the herbicide significantly reduced the levels of available carbon and total nitrogen in the soil, the polymers increased these parameters.