Pesticide risk assessment in integrated apple (Malus × domestica) farming systems of dry temperate and cold desert region of Indian Himalaya

RAJESHWAR S CHANDEL; I D SHARMA; R C MISHRA; PRAMOD KUMAR; DEEPALI BAKSHI

doi:10.56093/ijas.v87i8.73041

Authors

RAJESHWAR S CHANDEL Y S P University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173 230
I D SHARMA Y S P University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173 230
R C MISHRA Y S P University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173 230
PRAMOD KUMAR Y S P University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173 230
DEEPALI BAKSHI Y S P University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173 230

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v87i8.73041

Keywords:

Environmental risks, Residue accumulation, Soil contaminants, Water residues

Abstract

Horticulture has an important role in the socio-economic context of people of remote and inaccessible Himalayan
mountains. The intensive cultivation of horticultural crops however, has led to heavy usage of different pesticides
resulted into the contamination of environment. Pesticide residues were determined in soil and water samples from
integrated apple farming systems falling under dry temperate and cold desert (Zone-IV) of Himachal Pradesh, a
north-west Himalayan state of India. The pesticide residues of HCH and DDT were detected in soil samples, despite
their non-use history in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchards for the last 15 years. Σ-endosulfan, dicofol, Σ-HCH and Σ-DDT were detected as the major contaminants among organochlorines, whereas, chlorpyrifos was the
only organophosphate pesticide present in the soils. Endosulfan sulphate (16.67%) was the most encountered soil
contaminant in Zone-IV followed by β-endosulfan, chlorpyrifos, α-HCH, β-HCH and p,p-DDE’ each in all 2 samples
(8.33%) with a maximum concentration of 0.015, 0.008, 0.006, 0.006, 0.007 and 0.008 mg/kg, respectively. The monitoring of potable water revealed presence of no pesticide contaminants in natural resources used as potable water. The microbial counts were found higher in the soils of apple farming systems in Kinnaur district than in Lahaul & Spiti.

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