Application of Biodegradable Pesticides in India
273
of DDT decreased from 53.4% to 32.8% between 3 and 7 days, the corresponding
decrease of BHC was 30.6 to 18.8 for the same duration (Jagalan and Chopra,
1971). In groundnut plants, the residue of BHC decreased rapidly between 15
and 75 days to levels below the tolerance limit (Chopra et al., 1973).
DDT degraded faster on A. esculantus L. (Singh and Deshmukh, 1974).
Residues of DDT in Bengal gram (C. arietinum L.) were much below the
tolerance limits (Singh et al., 1973). Dusting of BHC (5%) on B. compestris
L. var. Sarsonprain showed 0.20 ppm residue after 10 days, suggesting rapid
dissipation of the compound (Misra et al., 1971).
Analysis of milk, butter, eggs, and different vegetable oils collected from
the market indicated that DDT and BHC were invariably present at high concentrations and above tolerance limits. Some of the samples showed more than
50 ppm of BHC. In comparison to the earlier studies of 1965 and 1972 the
survey conducted during 1974 showed an increase in DDT of about 3.3 times.
Concentration of DDT ranged from 1.1 to 8.0 ppm in butter and 5.01 to 25.7
ppm in vegetable oils. In contrast to butter and oil, eggs were contaminated with
low residues of DDT (Agnihotri et al., 1974a,b; Dikshith, 1978). BHC dust
(5%) translocated faster in cow peas (Vigna catjang walh) than in green gram
(Phaseolus aureus Roxb).
Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) sprayed with 0.01 % of lindane contained
only traces of lindane after 5 days, showing a quick dissipation from the plant
(Jain and Gupta, 1976). A comparative study with carrots (Daucus carotae L.),
radishes, (Raphanus sativus L.), and beet roots (Beta vulgare L.) suggested that
the maximum amount of insecticide is absorbed by carrots, followed by radish
and beet root (Yadav, 1976; Yadav et al., 1977; Srivastava and Kavadia, 1976).
Residues of BHC disappeared by about 88% in chili (Capsicum annum L.) within
a period of 150 days under the climatic conditions of Jodhpur (Pal and Kushwah,
1977).
Endrin (0.02%) sprayed on rice plants did not leave any residues in the
grain, straw, and bran, but at higher concentrations the residues were detected
on both grain and straw (Rajukkannu et al., 1976).
Endosulfan sprayed on A. esculantus dissipated rapidly, and the plants
showed very little residue (Singh, 1972). The insecticide did not leave any
residues on cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis). The initial deposit
of endosulfan was 29.8 ppm on leaves and 18.6 ppm on curds, which declined
to 0.9 and 0.6 ppm, respectively, after 32 days (Awasthi et al., 1974; Verma
and Rattan Lal, 1976; Kavadia et al., 1974). Similar were the observations of
Nath et al. (1974) on A. esculantus. The residues dissipated quickly in the first
48 hr and were 6 ppm on the sixth day after treatment. Endosulfan residues on
the fig (Ficus carica) and tomato disappeared faster within 5-7 days (Joia and
Kalra, 1974; Singh and Deshmuth, 1974; Dixit et al., 1975; Shankar and Kavadia, 1976; Srivastava et al., 1976). P. aureus (Roxb) and Cajanus cajian
273
of DDT decreased from 53.4% to 32.8% between 3 and 7 days, the corresponding
decrease of BHC was 30.6 to 18.8 for the same duration (Jagalan and Chopra,
1971). In groundnut plants, the residue of BHC decreased rapidly between 15
and 75 days to levels below the tolerance limit (Chopra et al., 1973).
DDT degraded faster on A. esculantus L. (Singh and Deshmukh, 1974).
Residues of DDT in Bengal gram (C. arietinum L.) were much below the
tolerance limits (Singh et al., 1973). Dusting of BHC (5%) on B. compestris
L. var. Sarsonprain showed 0.20 ppm residue after 10 days, suggesting rapid
dissipation of the compound (Misra et al., 1971).
Analysis of milk, butter, eggs, and different vegetable oils collected from
the market indicated that DDT and BHC were invariably present at high concentrations and above tolerance limits. Some of the samples showed more than
50 ppm of BHC. In comparison to the earlier studies of 1965 and 1972 the
survey conducted during 1974 showed an increase in DDT of about 3.3 times.
Concentration of DDT ranged from 1.1 to 8.0 ppm in butter and 5.01 to 25.7
ppm in vegetable oils. In contrast to butter and oil, eggs were contaminated with
low residues of DDT (Agnihotri et al., 1974a,b; Dikshith, 1978). BHC dust
(5%) translocated faster in cow peas (Vigna catjang walh) than in green gram
(Phaseolus aureus Roxb).
Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) sprayed with 0.01 % of lindane contained
only traces of lindane after 5 days, showing a quick dissipation from the plant
(Jain and Gupta, 1976). A comparative study with carrots (Daucus carotae L.),
radishes, (Raphanus sativus L.), and beet roots (Beta vulgare L.) suggested that
the maximum amount of insecticide is absorbed by carrots, followed by radish
and beet root (Yadav, 1976; Yadav et al., 1977; Srivastava and Kavadia, 1976).
Residues of BHC disappeared by about 88% in chili (Capsicum annum L.) within
a period of 150 days under the climatic conditions of Jodhpur (Pal and Kushwah,
1977).
Endrin (0.02%) sprayed on rice plants did not leave any residues in the
grain, straw, and bran, but at higher concentrations the residues were detected
on both grain and straw (Rajukkannu et al., 1976).
Endosulfan sprayed on A. esculantus dissipated rapidly, and the plants
showed very little residue (Singh, 1972). The insecticide did not leave any
residues on cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis). The initial deposit
of endosulfan was 29.8 ppm on leaves and 18.6 ppm on curds, which declined
to 0.9 and 0.6 ppm, respectively, after 32 days (Awasthi et al., 1974; Verma
and Rattan Lal, 1976; Kavadia et al., 1974). Similar were the observations of
Nath et al. (1974) on A. esculantus. The residues dissipated quickly in the first
48 hr and were 6 ppm on the sixth day after treatment. Endosulfan residues on
the fig (Ficus carica) and tomato disappeared faster within 5-7 days (Joia and
Kalra, 1974; Singh and Deshmuth, 1974; Dixit et al., 1975; Shankar and Kavadia, 1976; Srivastava et al., 1976). P. aureus (Roxb) and Cajanus cajian