Chemical pesticides can be harmful to plants and other non-target organisms if exposed to vulnerable environmental conditions. A study was conducted to determine the effect of pesticides on amylase activity in two types of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) soils. The study assessed the effect of four commonly used pesticides, namely, Bifenthrin, Buprofezin, Dimethomorph, and Pyraclostrobin on amylase activity for a duration of 10, 20, 30 and 40 days. Soil samples were collected from groundnut fields in Ananatapuramu District of Andhra Pradesh, India, and treated with different concentrations of pesticides (10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm) in the laboratory, which are equivalent to field application rates of 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 kg ha-1. The data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT).
The study found that pesticides significantly increased the activity of amylase in both black and red soils at 2.5 kg ha-¹ after 24 and 72 hours. However, at higher concentrations of 7.5 and 10.0 kg ha-1 respectively, pesticides were toxic to amylase activity. Moreover, the activity of amylase decreased dramatically with increasing periods of incubation up to 40 days. Therefore, the study suggests that pesticides can have a profound effect on the activity of amylase, with a beneficial effect at lower concentrations, but a harmful effect at higher concentrations and prolonged exposure.
Author(s) Details:
Ramanamma P,
Sri Krishna Devaraya University, Ananatapuramu, India.
Swetha K,
Sri Krishna Devaraya University, Ananatapuramu, India.
Rangaswamy V,
Sri Krishna Devaraya University, Ananatapuramu, India.
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