ABSTRACT
JEYABALAN SANGEETHA1, MUNISWAMY DAVID2, DEVARAJAN THANGADURAI3, ETIGEMANE RAMAPPA HARISH2, JADHAV SHRINIVAS2, PRATHIMA PURUSHOTHAM3, and KARTHEEK RAJENDRA MALOWADE2
1Department of Environmental Science, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala 671316, India 2Department of Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad 580003, Karnataka, India 3Department of Botany, Karnatak University, Dharwad 580003, Karnataka, India
4.1 INTRODUCTION
Pesticides are agrochemicals which are in use to prevent pests infesting crops. Usage of pesticides largely increased from the past few decades which even started from pre-sowing stage. In agricultural fields, soil is the most important component as it is the site for biological interactions. Repeated application of pesticides ultimately contaminates the soil via spray drift during foliage treatment, ground water through seepage, and surface water through runoff. Ultimately, pesticide contamination adversely affects the soil ecosystem function by affecting microflora, macroflora, fauna, and physicochemical properties of the soil. Finally, it leads to the degradation of soil fertility. Nutrient cycle, roots, plants, and soil biological activities normally found in the top 20-30 cm (8-12 in), known as the rhizosphere. The most important microflora of the rhizosphere soil are nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, and mineral solubilizers. In addition, many types of bacteria produce plant-growth promoting substances. These microorganisms are responsible for the overall fertility of the soil (Asadu et al., 2015). The excess and frequent application of pesticides may adversely affect these kinds of agriculturally beneficial microorganisms and ultimately spoil fertility of the soil.
