Study on Degradation of Fertilizer and Pesticides Using Lysimeter

Abstract

Agriculture is the main occupation in India. Growing demand for food or a result of increasing population has led to a substantial increase in the production of agrochemicals like pesticides and fertilizers resulting in a continued contamination of environment including water bodies. The Lysimeter will allow us to better monitor below ground processes and measurements of nutrients, pesticides, and moisture content with minimal disturbance, both of which are extremely difficult to perform in the field. The Lysimeter were made up of cast iron, 1.2m diameter, and 1.5m length. Ports were provided at each depth of 0.5m to collect samples up to 1.5m. Lysimeter is installed in field in undisturbed condition. The experiment was initiated in June 2009 at the krishi vigyan Kendra farm (kupparvalli, suttur, Nanjangud). Lysimeter were used to study the leaching of fertilizers and pesticides in paddy field. The leachate samples collected from the field (Lysimeter) were analyzed for nitrate, phosphate, pH, conductivity, and Chlorpyriphos. Chlorpyriphos concentration showed a decreasing trend with depth this is may be due to reason as the pesticide moves through the soil it gets absorbed by organic carbon and degraded by the microorganism.