Long-term application of the organic and inorganic pesticides in vineyards: Environmental record of past use

Abstract

Areas such as Douro Demarcated Region (Portugal), where vineyards are frequently located on steep slopes of narrow valleys, can be particularly sensitive to runoff and erosion processes. These particular conditions are expected to enhance the transport of pollutants, acting as a potential source of contamination to freshwater systems. The intense vine cultivation in this region includes decades of pesticides application, that have resulted in the accumulation of these chemicals and its degradation products in the vineyards soils and sediments. Residues of several pesticides related to agricultural activities were found in soils, with older vineyards showing higher levels of Cu and banned insecticides (such as DDT). The metabolite 4,4-DDE was the compound found at higher levels in soils and in sediments. The relatively high levels in more recent sediments suggest that soils are still a source of contamination. Levels of currently used pesticides were low, which is related with their physicochemical properties, the application period, and climacteric conditions.

Lead and zinc concentrations in household dust and toenails of the residents (Estarreja, Portugal): a source-pathway-fate model

“…Multivariate techniques evaluate multiple chemicals and allow the development of a site-specic chemical prole that has been referred to as a signature. 35 Multivariate chemical signatures have been used to identify contaminated sites and sources of hazardous substances through techniques such as principal components analysis 27,36 and multiple correspondence analysis. 37 Cluster analysis (CA) is oen coupled to principal components analysis (PCA) to check results and to provide groups of individual samples and variables.…”

Assessment of the Impact of Distinct Vineyard Management Practices on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties

“…All vineyards have a clay loam texture, except CV which has a sandy loam one, whereas the control sites CV-C and BD-C present a loam, and IP/NT-C a silt loam texture. Bulk density in inter-row zones was similar between all 4 vineyards (median values of 1.4-1.6 g/cm 3 ; P > 0.05) and the 3 control sites (1.2-1.3 g/cm 3 ; P > 0.05) ( Table 3, presented in section below), with the latter displaying slightly lower values than the associated vineyards (P > 0.05). Results from the vineyards are in accordance with bulk density findings from other studies, such as those from Coll et al, 46 reporting similarities between conventional (1.2 g/cm 3 ) and organic (1.3-1.4 g/cm 3 ) vineyards.…”

“…Copper-based fungicides have been widely used in vineyards for more than a century, 54 which led to significant Cu accumulation in these agricultural soils worldwide. 3 Due to high Cu contamination of vineyard soils in Mediterranean areas and the phytotoxicity of this heavy metal, several researchers have suggested the need for remediation strategies. 17 Zinc concentrations were similar between the vineyards and associated control sites (P > 0.05), except in CV ( Figure 5B).…”

“…1 The wine sector is an important economic sector in Portugal, not only because wine amount to 52% of total sales of the drink industry 2 but also due to increasing enotourism. 3 Wine growing in Portugal is still largely based on intensive management practices that focus on maximizing grape yields. Traditional wine-growing practices in Portugal involve frequent tillage to minimize weed cover and soil compaction, post-harvest removal of crop residues, and high application rates of mineral fertilizers and phytopharmaceuticals for weed and pest control.…”

“…16 Due to enhanced runoff and erosion, and the associated transport of nutrients, pesticides and their degradation products accumulated in soils, Mediterranean vineyards have been identified as relevant sources of diffuse contamination and, thereby, an important threat to-typically scarce-water resources. 3,17 Aside from its off-site impacts, soil erosion can also decrease in-situ soil fertility and, thereby, reduce crop yields and economic revenues of farmers, 4,9 which, in turn, can promote land use changes, including land abandonment. 13 The environmental problems caused by agricultural intensification have been raising growing concerns regarding traditional 2 Air, Soil and Water Research farming systems and, arguably, have motivated a gradual shift toward more sustainable practices.…”