OO Fayinminnu, MO Odewale, A Adebayo*, KA Thomas and DO Omobusuyi
1Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
2Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
Atrazine is a pre-emergent herbicide used for the control of broad-leaf weeds that has residual activity in the environment.
Extensive
use
of
atrazine
(strength
of
800
g/kg
Atrazine
50%
WP)
in
Irish
potato
production
in
Plateau
State,
Nigeria has prompted this study to evaluate the atrazine residue levels in Irish potato varieties in three selected
(Mangu, Jos South and Bokkos) areas of Plateau State. A questionnaire -based survey was conducted to
determine the types and extent of herbicides used by farmers cultivating Irish potatoes. Samples of four Irish potato
varieties: Diamant, Marabel, Christian Lady and Yellow and soils at 0-15cm depth were collected from each
of the three Local Government Areas (LGAs). All the samples were subjected to chemical extractions using standard
procedures
and
the
extracts
were
analyzed
for
atrazine
residues
using
spectrophotometer.
Data
were
analysed
using
descriptive
statistics
and
ANOVA
at
p=0.05.
Results
showed
63.6%
of
farmers
using
synthetic
herbicides
on
their
farms, while 76.27% used atrazine as their preferred herbicide over paraquat 23.73%. Soil samples from
Mangu had significantly highest value of 9.98 mg/kg of atrazine residues and from the Diamant variety with no
detection of atrazine in soil samples from other selected LGAs and their respective varieties. The Yellow variety
from both Jos South and Bokkos had the highest values of 3.32 mg/kg and 3.13 mg/kg atrazine herbicide residues,
while the least value of 1.51 mg/kg was from Diamant variety in Bokkos. However,
Atrazine residue was not detected
in Yellow, Marabel and Christian lady varieties from Mangu, Jos South and Bokkos, respectively. This study
showed high atrazine residues with concentrations above 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg (US EPA acceptable maximum
residue level) in the soil and Irish potato samples, respectively. This atrazine pesticide over time could lead
to bioaccumulation in living organisms, food chain and ecosystem.
Key words: Atrazine, Residue, Irish potato, Farmers` perception, Maximum residue level
Full Text : pdf
(540 kb)
* - Corresponding Author
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