Comparative Study of Physicochemical Properties and Enzymatic Status of Imidacloprid Treated Soils from Various Zones of Haryana, India

Abstract

Imidacloprid is the most commonly used insecticide in Haryana that play animportant role in pest management and hence improved crop yield production. This study was done to investigate the consequences of Imidacloprid on the activity of dehydrogenase and urease enzymes in soils of selected zones of Haryana. A 28 days experiment was carried out where sampling was done after 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day of Imidacloprid application at different concentrations like T1 (1 mg/kg), T2 (2 mg/kg) and T3 (10 mg/kg). After analysing the physicochemical properties of soils of various zones the enzymatic activities were measured using colorimetric assays. Dehydrogenase activity was decreased initially after imidacloprid exposure but after 14 days a stimulation was observed in dehydrogenase activity at lower doses. The decrease was directly proportional to concentration of imidacloprid and indirectly proportional to time of incubation. Urease activity was inhibited by highest dose of imidacloprid after first day exposure. However, a stimulation in urease activity was observed after 14 days of imidacloprid treatment at all doses. Obtained results showed that the activity of dehydrogenase and urease were affected by concentration and treatment time of Imidacloprid significantly in soils of each selected zone of Haryana. The results provide a clue about the possible ecological effects of Imidacloprid.