Seasonal Influence of Glyphosate Herbicide Application on Soil Bacteria in Benue State, North Central, Nigeria

The Effect of Glyphosate Harbicide on Soil Fungi

“…Long-term control of understory vegetation can reduce soil organic matter and nitrogen content (Busse et al, 1996), both vital resources for microbial activity. Glyphosate has an amino and phosphoric analogue of the natural amino acid glycine (Ella et al, 2013). Glyphosate was first discovered to have herbicidal activity in 1970 by John Frank (Ella et al, 2013).…”

“…Glyphosate has an amino and phosphoric analogue of the natural amino acid glycine (Ella et al, 2013). Glyphosate was first discovered to have herbicidal activity in 1970 by John Frank (Ella et al, 2013). Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting the enzymes 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate -3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) which catalyzes the reaction of Shikimate -3phosphate (S3p) and phosphoenolpyruvate to form 5 -Enolpyruvyl -Shikimate -3-phosphate (ESP).…”

“…Glyphosate is less toxic than a number of other herbicides such as those from the organochlorine family (Williams et al, 2000, USEPA, 2006. Ingestion of one or several mouthfuls of glyphosate has been found to cause fatalities in people despite immediate and intensive treatment (Ella et al, 2013). Acute toxicity induced by glyphosate is enhanced when ingestion (100 ml or more) is accompanied by esophageal injuries (Chang et al, 1999).…”

“…They also alter the balances of soil ecology (Araujo et al, 2003). Glyphosate selectively binds with iron and aluminum oxides in the soil, but is released when phosphates are heavily introduced (Ella et al, 2013). The glyphosate adsorption is highest in low -pH system (pH of 6 or below), and that alkaline soils (pH > 7) tend to poorly adsorb glyphosate, allowing for greater contamination of water.…”

“…In the soil environment, glyphosate is resistant to chemical degradation such as hydrolysis and is stable to sunlight (Ella et al, 2013). The primary metabolite of glyphosate is aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA) which has a slower degradation rate than glyphosate.…”