The increasing use of
agrochemicals for weed control has raised concerns about their ecotoxicological
effects on soil micro-biota communities and soil functions which serve as
indicators of soil quality. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the
effects of continuous field applied herbicides glyphosate, paraquat, atrazine
and their combined forms over a period of five years on soil organic carbon,
bacterial and fungal population in Akure, Ondo State Nigeria. Soil samples from
farmer’s field which have been exposed to continuous herbicide application were
collected and analysed for physio-chemical properties, organic carbon, total
bacterial and fungal population. Simultaneously, soil samples designated as
control were collected from adjacent fields with no history of herbicide
application and analysed. Results showed a significant (P=0.05) 86% and 128%
increase in bacterial population from glyphosate and atrazine treated fields
respectively and 42% decrease in paraquat and Glyphosate + paraquat fields when
compared with the untreated field. A significant 35% decrease in fungal population
was observed in fields applied with atrazine and a further 10% decrease in
fungal populations in all herbicide treated fields irrespective of herbicide
type and combinations when compared with the untreated field. These changes
also correlates with the abundance of beneficial microbes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas
fluorescens, Proteus mirabilis, Aspergillus flavius with a probable
influence on plant growth promotion and potentials for biodegradation of
persistent herbicides. SOC, SOM and pH was significantly (P=0.05) increased in
atrazine and atrazine + paraquat treated fields when compared with the
untreated fields and other herbicide treatments.
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | July 1, 2017 |
Published in Issue | Year 2017 Volume: 6 Issue: 3 |