Impacts of long-term application of buctril super (bromoxynil) herbicide on microbial population,enzymes activity,nitrate nitrogen,Olsen-P and total organic carbon in soil |
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Authors: | Zafar Abbas Muhammad Akmal Khalid Saifullah Khan Fayyaz-ul- Hassan |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Soil Science &2. SWC, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistanzafar_75@yahoo.com;4. SWC, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan;5. Department of Agronomy, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan |
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Abstract: | Long-term impact of buctril super (bromoxynil) herbicide in the wheat fields on soil microbial population, nitrate-N, Olsen-P, total organic carbon (TOC) and enzyme activities was evaluated in 18 sites in Pakistan. Nine sites were randomly selected from those places where bromoxynil herbicide had been used for the last 10 years designated as soil ‘X’ and other nine where no herbicide was used in that period designated as soil ‘Y’. Very importantly, it was found that long-term application of this herbicide in wheat fields reduced the actinomycetes and fungi population up to 19.7 and 14.3%, respectively, urease and dehydrogenase activity by 17.5 and 28.2%, respectively, and reduced nitrate-N, Olsen-P and TOC up to 55, 17 and 28.57%, respectively. Presence of high clay and organic matter contents enhanced the detrimental effect of herbicide by prolonging its persistence as compared to light-textured soils with low organic matter. As in Pakistan this herbicide is being used most frequently in wheat fields, data are scarce on the long-term effect of this herbicide on soil microbial activities and soil health. These findings could give new insights about the use of alternate herbicide in wheat fields, particularly in clay-textured and high organic matter contained soils for maintaining soil health. |
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Keywords: | bromoxynil dehydrogenase nitrate-N Olsen-P TOC fungi actinomycetes |
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