Dynamics of residues from a novel nano-imidacloprid formulation in soyabean fields

Imidacloprid has been widely used to control vegetable pests in China. This research was conducted to establish a method for preparing a novel imidacloprid nano-formulation and develop a simple and efficient method for determination of residues of the novel imidacloprid formulation in soyabean fields. Imidacloprid micro-crystals were directly encapsulated with chitosan and sodium alginate through layer-by-layer self-assembly. The coated colloids and photocatalysts were characterized using confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Residues of the novel imidacloprid were determined by HPLC equipped with a UV detector. The results showed that imidacloprid micro-crystals were obtained by association and had a mean length of 7 μm and a zeta potential of −37.5 mV. The pesticide loading and encapsulation efficiency were 56.2 ± 0.96% and 81.6 ± 0.96%, respectively. Degradation of the nano-imidacloprid and the suspension concentrate imidacloprid formulations in soil coincided with C = 0.227e^−0.152t and C = 0.544e^−0.177t with half lives of about 2.8 d and 6.2 d, respectively. Degradation of the two imidacloprid formulations in soyabean plants coincided with C = 6.644e^−0.475t and C = 8.585e^−0.573t with half lives of about 1.9 d and 4.5 d, respectively. Thus, in soil, the degradation rate of the nano formulation was faster than that of the suspension concentrate, but the degradation rates were vice versa in the plant. The final residue of the nano imidacloprid formulation after 35 days was below the limit of detection but in the soyabean plant, the final residue was 0.003 mg kg⁻¹, much lower than the USA Environment Protection Agency’s Maximum Residue Level. Therefore, a dosage of 900 ml hm⁻² is suggested for the nano-imidacloprid concentrate, which could be considered as safe to fields.