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The intensive use of chemical inputs in the agricultural field has reduced soil fertility as well as affected human health and the environment. To overcome these problems, environmentally friendly alternatives such as vermicompost applications should be used. Vermicomposting is an ecofriendly way in which earthworms convert organic residues into compost and contribute to plant growth and development. This is the first study of two forms of vermicompost applied as solid and liquid on plant growth and fungicide tolerance in lettuce. In this study, barnyard manure was composted with the Red California earthworm Eisenia foetida (Lumbricidae). The effects of different doses (0, 10, 20 and 30 %) of solid vermicompost and commercial liquid vermicompost were investigated on some growth and yield parameters (leaf length, leaf width, SPAD chlorophyll amount, number of marketable leaves, number of discarded leaves, leaf pH, leaf nitrogen content and fungicide residue values) of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) grown under greenhouse conditions. The parameters were statistically significant for vermicompost type and dose for all results except leaf pH, number of discarded leaves and fungicide residue analysis. The results of solid vermicompost application were higher than control and commercial liquid vermicompost in terms of all parameters. The highest leaf length and width values were determined at a 20% dose of solid vermicompost, while the highest SPAD chlorophyll value and leaf nitrogen values were determined at a 30% dose. The number of marketable leaves was higher in all doses of solid vermicompost application. However, there was no statistically significant difference in fungicide residue analyses in terms of vermicompost types, dose, and vermicompost type-dose interactions. Fungicide residue levels were detected above the MRL (maximum residue limits) in all samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March of 2012, following a robust activist campaign, Arysta LifeScience withdrew the soil fumigant methyl iodide from the US market, just a little over a year after it had finally been registered for use in California. As a major part of the campaign against registration of the chemical, over 53,000 people, ostensibly acting as citizens rather than consumers, wrote public comments contesting the use of the chemical for its high toxicity. Although these comments had marginal impact on the outcome of the case, these comments are of interest for what they say about public action at a time when efforts to address food and agricultural issues have been dominated by 'voting with your fork.' Based on a qualitative textual analysis of approximately 3500 representative comments made available to us, we show that many of those taking action did not abandon consumer subjectivities associated with neoliberal governmentality. By threatening 'personal boycotts,' some were acting in their capacity as individual consumers; in invoking their own and their children's health many more were also acting on behalf of consumers, despite that the chemical in question is applied before strawberries are planted and thus leaves no residues. The emphasis that letter writers gave to their own bodies reinforces the idea that some bodies count more than others and thus reveals a biopolitical sorting. Having consumer lives matter is consequential in light of evidence that consumer concern about pesticides has historically led to formulations and regulations more protective of consumers than workers and neighbors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]