Determination of Paraquat (Herbicide) Residue Level in Sandy Clay Loam Soil Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Pesticide is considered as the most widely used form of agricultural chemical. Pesticide residue is the remaining pesticide on or in soil after pesticide is applied on agriculture soil. Soil is a component that is crucial to life. The research purposely concerned on major effects that could be contributed from medium to unlimited application of pesticide. The soil samples were systematically collected from 5 plots and Paraquat residues concentrations were determined in dissimilar depth of soil layers. The herbicide used was Paraquat that contained Paraquat Dichloride. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis detected the peak area volumes of Paraquat in soil samples at level ranging from 0.3 to 5.9 mg/l. The concentration of Paraquat in sandy clay loam soil showed that herbicide leached downward to the depth of 15 cm. The maximum concentration of Paraquat residue was detected at 0 to15 cm of soil depth at 2.783 mg/l. In highly organic soils, adsorption is weaker and Paraquat remains herbicidally active for longer, up to 29 days in one trial on soil with 98% organic matter [1]. Oral dose, LD50 for human is equal to 40-60 mg/kg [2] while the lowest fatal dose recorded for human was 17 mg/kg, but even lower doses may be fatal for children [3].

Effect of Herbicides on Potato and their Persistence in Acid Soil under Semiarid Tropical Condition

“…9 Increase in soil pH increases its sorption to soil particles and vice versa and the sorption is weaker in highly organic soils and remains active for long time and present up to 29days in soil with more than 98% organic matter. 10 Since paraquat is not mobile in most soils, 8 its bound residues persist for long time until transported in runoff along with sediments. Thus the risk of ground water contamination by paraquat is not high until directly applied to water bodies for aquatic weed control.…”

Environmental Health Risk Analysis of Paraquat Exposure in Palm Oil Plantations

“…paraquat concentration also found in clay loam to a depth of 15 cm, the maximum residual concentration of paraquat was detected was 2.783 mg/kg [16], but paraquat was found in soil layer 10-20 cm after first day applications and up to 2 weeks after application, after that paraquat was only found in soil layer 0-10 cm [17]. Paraquat concentration was found on top soil samples in the summer between 3.33 to 8.28 mg/kg dry weight soil and in the winter paraquat concentrations was found between 1.30-9.15 mg/kg dry weight [10].…”

Environmental Health Risk Analysis of Paraquat Exposure in Palm Oil Plantations

“…The studied in Pelaihari with nine soil samples, 3 of them were detected containing paraquat between 0.088 to 1.080 mg/kg dry weight soil [15]. paraquat concentration also found in clay loam to a depth of 15 cm, the maximum residual concentration of paraquat was detected was 2.783 mg/kg [16], but paraquat was found in soil layer 10-20 cm after first day applications and up to 2 weeks after application, after that paraquat was only found in soil layer 0-10 cm [17]. Paraquat concentration was found on top soil samples in the summer between 3.33 to 8.28 mg/kg dry weight soil and in the winter paraquat concentrations was found between 1.30-9.15 mg/kg dry weight [10].…”