Co-existence of Pesticides and Fertilizers in Agricultural Soil Environment

Abstract

Pesticides and fertilizers are of utmost importance in suppression of pests and meeting food requirements. However, the excessive and inefficient use has ended up in severe environmental damage, in which soil health has intensively witnessed most critical part of harmful problems. Exposure of pesticides and fertilizers adversely affects soil nutrient content, enzyme activities, predominant non-target organisms, structural and functional biodiversity of microbial populations. It has been observed that the adsorption-desorption, leaching and degradation behaviors of pesticides can be modified in response to fertilizers, which regulate microorganisms for assimilated pollutes. Application of optically pure, bio-based pesticides and fertilizers for soil amendment is a sustainable and low cost option to avoid combined contamination in the soil environment. The practices of organic wastes as cost-effective biochar loaded fertilizers can also further achieve a double win targets in the formation of green production mode for pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, more studies are needed to help identify opportunities for new agro-ecosystem.