Application of Biodegradable Pesticides in India
275
metabolism of carbofuran in Sorghum was very rapid (Baskaran and Jothwani,
1976).
10.5.4. Fungicides, Herbicides, and Fumigants
Reports on the residues of fungicides in India are very sketchy. Since most
of the organic fungicides have low mammalian toxicity, problems of excessive
residues of the parent compound are not generally serious. Soil organic matter
is a potential absorber of PeNB. The half-life of the fungicide in the soils varied
from 15.4 to 53 days. Carboxin was rapidly absorbed by sugarcane and was
degraded in the plant within 7 days (Agnihotri et ai., 1973). Absorption and
translocation of carboxin and oxycarboxin in pearl millet showed a time-dependent loss of the fungicides (Bhaktavatsalam and Tripathi, 1974; Tripathy et
ai., 1976). Two of the degraded products of benomyl, one methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate and the other unidentified (Rf, 0:30) were found up to 45 and
15 days, respectively (Kannaiyan et ai., 1975). Tridemorph was degraded rapidly
on tea leaves to levels of less than 0.1 ppm in 14 days (Venkataraman, 1977).
Work conducted in India on residue levels of herbicides on crop, soil, and
water has also been meagre. The half-life period in soils for 2,4-0 ranged from
14.53 to 32.2 days, for atrazine from 20.3 to 52.58 days, and for monuron from
50.75 to 115.50 days. Based on the study, it was found that atrazine and monuron
were better herbicides for soil application than 2,4-0 and paraquat (Mithyantha,
1973). Spraying of dodine on citrus plants left no residue (Ray and Addy, 1976).
Tomato plants showed little residue after treatment with fungicides (Jhooty and
Munshi, 1976).
Aureofungin, benomyl, carbondaxins, ceresan, ferbam, mancozeb, and
MBC were applied to control rotting on ginger rhizomes. The effects of carbondazim persisted up to 90 days, while the effects of others disappeared much
more quickly (Arora et ai., 1977a). The residue of benzimidazole on sugar beets
during harvest was between 3.15 and 6.2 ppm, much below the tolerance level,
indicating rapid dissipation (Bandopadhyay and Mukhopadhyay, 1977). Degradation of 2,4-0, atrazine, and monuron was fast when moisture was high, and
the degradation followed first-order kinetics (Mithyantha, 1973). Grains and
plant of maize contained no simazine and atrazine residue (Kulshrestha et ai.,
1976). Fumigation of wheat with iodofenphos for the control of Tribolium sp.
indicated no evidence of residue (Girish et ai., 1971; Chawla et ai., 1976).
Treatment of groundnut (Arachis hypogeae) seeds, pulses, food grains,
almonds, walnuts, coffee beans, and seeds of coriander with methyl bromide,
methyl iodine, and phosphine showed little residue in the food material (Muthu
et ai., 1976; Sinha et ai., 1976). The pattern of dissipation and the residue level
275
metabolism of carbofuran in Sorghum was very rapid (Baskaran and Jothwani,
1976).
10.5.4. Fungicides, Herbicides, and Fumigants
Reports on the residues of fungicides in India are very sketchy. Since most
of the organic fungicides have low mammalian toxicity, problems of excessive
residues of the parent compound are not generally serious. Soil organic matter
is a potential absorber of PeNB. The half-life of the fungicide in the soils varied
from 15.4 to 53 days. Carboxin was rapidly absorbed by sugarcane and was
degraded in the plant within 7 days (Agnihotri et ai., 1973). Absorption and
translocation of carboxin and oxycarboxin in pearl millet showed a time-dependent loss of the fungicides (Bhaktavatsalam and Tripathi, 1974; Tripathy et
ai., 1976). Two of the degraded products of benomyl, one methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate and the other unidentified (Rf, 0:30) were found up to 45 and
15 days, respectively (Kannaiyan et ai., 1975). Tridemorph was degraded rapidly
on tea leaves to levels of less than 0.1 ppm in 14 days (Venkataraman, 1977).
Work conducted in India on residue levels of herbicides on crop, soil, and
water has also been meagre. The half-life period in soils for 2,4-0 ranged from
14.53 to 32.2 days, for atrazine from 20.3 to 52.58 days, and for monuron from
50.75 to 115.50 days. Based on the study, it was found that atrazine and monuron
were better herbicides for soil application than 2,4-0 and paraquat (Mithyantha,
1973). Spraying of dodine on citrus plants left no residue (Ray and Addy, 1976).
Tomato plants showed little residue after treatment with fungicides (Jhooty and
Munshi, 1976).
Aureofungin, benomyl, carbondaxins, ceresan, ferbam, mancozeb, and
MBC were applied to control rotting on ginger rhizomes. The effects of carbondazim persisted up to 90 days, while the effects of others disappeared much
more quickly (Arora et ai., 1977a). The residue of benzimidazole on sugar beets
during harvest was between 3.15 and 6.2 ppm, much below the tolerance level,
indicating rapid dissipation (Bandopadhyay and Mukhopadhyay, 1977). Degradation of 2,4-0, atrazine, and monuron was fast when moisture was high, and
the degradation followed first-order kinetics (Mithyantha, 1973). Grains and
plant of maize contained no simazine and atrazine residue (Kulshrestha et ai.,
1976). Fumigation of wheat with iodofenphos for the control of Tribolium sp.
indicated no evidence of residue (Girish et ai., 1971; Chawla et ai., 1976).
Treatment of groundnut (Arachis hypogeae) seeds, pulses, food grains,
almonds, walnuts, coffee beans, and seeds of coriander with methyl bromide,
methyl iodine, and phosphine showed little residue in the food material (Muthu
et ai., 1976; Sinha et ai., 1976). The pattern of dissipation and the residue level