Concentrations of glyphosate and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in beans, leaves and soils in cocoa (Theobroma cacaoL.) crops in the San Martin region, Peru

Abstract

The objective of the research was to identify cocoa plots with the presence of glyphosate and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and to quantify these molecules in soils, leaves and dry fermented cocoa beans in 16 cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) producing areas in the San Martin region. The samples were analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Glyphosate concentrations in soils ranged from 0.1751 to 0.5925 ppm, while concentrations in cocoa leaves ranged from 0.0015 to 0.2639 ppm. In dry fermented cocoa beans, glyphosate values between 0.0427 and 0.5518 ppm were obtained. Regarding 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid values, soil concentrations ranged from 0.2248 to 0.7201 ppm; while in leaves, values between 0.0011 and 0.3307 ppm were reported. In dry cocoa beans, quantification ranged from 0.0708 to 0.6491 ppm. It was established that there are significant contrasts (p<0.05) between the amounts of glyphosate and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in soils, leaves and dry cocoa beans. The values of glyphosate and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid found in dry cocoa beans in 93.75% of the plots exceed the MRLs dictated by NTS No 128-2016/MINSA/DIGESA, which is 0.1 ppm for these analytes.