Co-existence of Pesticides and Fertilizers in Agricultural Soil Environment
Hui Liu*
Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
Submission: November 30, 2022; Published: December 09, 2022
*Corresponding author: Hui Liu, Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
How to cite this article: Hui L. Co-existence of Pesticides and Fertilizers in Agricultural Soil Environment. Agri Res & Tech: Open Access J. 2022; 27 (3): 556367. DOI: 10.19080/ARTOAJ.2022.27.556367
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.
Keywords: Pesticides; Fertilizers; Soil pollution; Ecotoxicological effects; Remediation strategy
Introduction
Pesticides and fertilizers become an indispensable part of modern agriculture used to control pests and improve crop yields. Feeding the population in China requires increasing agricultural production. Therefore, growing demand is mainly dependent upon heavy input of pesticides and fertilizers [1]. Soil is a large pool of microorganisms and plays important roles in the emergence or spread of pesticides and fertilizers [2]. Soil pesticide pollution categorized into insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides mainly comes from the process of controlling pests and diseases [3]. Agricultural soils are particularly at risk since 30–50% of applied pesticides may transfer to soil surface and deep positions [4]. Furthermore, excessive use of pesticides will affect the soil quality and functions [5]. Currently, the common fertilizers include chemical and organic types. Although fertilizers can improve soil nutrition [6], heavy metals, micro plastics and other pollutants, instead, are also introduced into farmland soil, thereby modifying soil properties [7,8], functions, biodiversity, etc. [9,10] and ultimately threatening human health through the food chain. In order to ensure agricultural production and human health, the Ministry of Agriculture in China has put forward the strategic policies for zero growth, amount reduction and efficiency increase of pesticides and fertilizers.
Impact of Fertilizers on Pesticides Fate in Soil
The persistence of pesticides in soil is generally altered by fertilizers. The complex varieties and interactions between pesticides and fertilizers bring new challenges and different results of fate for pesticides. Study discovered that organic fertilizers may reduce the mobility of pesticides [11], so as to further interfering the breakdown of pesticides [12]. Some results have suggested that pesticides existed longer in soil amended by urea and organic fertilizers [13,14]. On the contrary, the favored pesticide degraders by urea, organic manure and compost amendments induced the enhanced pesticide degradation in soil [15-20]. The effect of fertilizers on the biodegradation rate of pesticides works in connect with the structure of pesticides. For instance, organic fertilizers decelerated biotic degradation of -C≡N- containing pesticides, in contrast, increased the relative abundance of -NO2- containing pesticide degraders [21]. The leaching and adsorption-desorption determine the pesticide availability for main transfer processes in soil and water body. Positive interactions of fertilizers towards adsorption-desorption [22,23] and leaching [24,25] of pesticides were also presented with different characteristics in soil. The changes of adsorption-desorption and leaching may attribute to interactions between pesticides and dissolved organic matter.
Combined Ecotoxicological Effects of Soil Pesticides and Fertilizers
Response of soil property indictors to pesticides and fertilizers
Pesticides and fertilizers are correlated with biotransformation and nutrient dynamics of soil organic compounds. Soil health is presumed as subsets of ecosystem health and decided by physical (texture, water holding capacity, soil aggregate dynamics, bulk density, porosity, compaction, infiltration rate), chemical (pH, nutrient availability, salinity, soil organic matter), and biological (C: N ratio, microbial activity, micoflora, enzymatic activity, soil respiration) properties [26]. It was reported that the application of pesticides and fertilizers caused soil acidification [27]. The nitrogen cycle was disturbed by pesticides, chemical fertilizers and manure [28]. Organic fertilizers applied after fumigation improved fertility, activated soil catalase, sucrase activities and promoted the abundance of soil beneficial microorganisms [29]. Owing to the fact that structure of soil microbial communities exhibited obvious variance treated by fertilizers and pesticides [30], genes probably significantly decreased in soils [31]. From this point of view, the change of soil functions will further affect pesticide degradation. Lower mineral adsorption, more active microorganisms and nutrients for microbial growth positively promote the degradation of pesticides [32].
Availability of pesticides and fertilizers to soil nontarget organisms
Earthworms are common indicators for pollution in a wide range of soils and may represent 60%~80% of the total biomass. Pesticides usually lead to reduced body weight and morphological changes in surviving earthworms. It is demonstrated that lower application rates of long-term organic amendment may conspicuously shape or benefit earthworm gut functional structures and microbial diversity. Biological availability and toxicity of pesticides in soils are affected by the nature of binding to organic matter types [33], which can be adjusted by fertilizers. Previous research has confirmed that mixture of pesticides and phosphate fertilizers negatively caused significant changes in defense system of earthworm Lumbricus terrestris [34]. Accordingly, low toxic pesticides and organic biological fertilizers are more friendly for earthworms.
Countermeasures for Soil Pesticides and Fertilizers Pollution
New pesticides and fertilizers system
The soil quality was improved by partly organic fertilizer replacement and pesticide reduction (green manure, organic substitution, biological pesticides, etc.) [35,36]. A large number of studies have shown that the effective combination of organic and chemical fertilizers not only provides appropriate nutrients, ensures crop yield, but also further reduces the negative impact on soil health [37-41]. Biopesticides, which are derived from natural sources (fungi, bacteria, plants, animals and minerals) for pest management are potential alternative to develop with high efficiency and low toxicity [42]. In addition, developing effective monomers of pesticides involved chiral characteristics is also an important method for pesticide reduction [43,44].
Remediation of pesticides pollution by biofertilizers
Biochar is extensively studied as an ideal adsorbent for the removal of pesticides and verified to be a promising carrier for fertilizers [45]. Research has shown that the bio-organic fertilizers developed by agricultural solid wastes well removed pesticide in soil [46]. It can be seen that the application of biochar as a consequence could simultaneously eliminate the combined pollution from fertilizers and pesticides.
Conclusion
Concern about agricultural soil health is linked to both pesticide and fertilizer pollution. Adhering to the strategic policy of reducing amount and increasing efficiency of pesticide with fertilizer can contribute immediately and long-term maintenance to agricultural productivity and profitability. It has advantages of harnessing the power of biology to work with the interaction characteristics between pesticides and fertilizers, evaluate their combined adverse effects on soil properties and organisms. We still need to further deepen the understanding of ecological principles from expanding the pesticide and fertilizer types, samples, time length, and crop systems. Starting from the full construction of environmental behavior and toxicological evaluation mechanism, reduction and bioremediation are approaches to design and adopt driven by development of biological pesticides, fertilizers and biochar materials. The pesticide and fertilizer co-pollution deserves attention and comprehensive study on advancing soil ecological health, crop yield and green agriculture.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (LH2019B003) and received support from Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020T130086).
References
- Ablimit R, Li W, Zhang J, Gao H, Zhao Y, et al. (2022) Altering microbial community for improving soil properties and agricultural sustainability during a 10-year maize-green manure intercropping in Northwest China. J Environ Manage 321: 115859.
- Ren Z, Zhao Y, Huang J, Han S, Wang Y, (2022) Validation and inhibition study for toxic expression of quinolone antibiotic resistance genes in agricultural soils of eastern China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 241: 113806.
- Oguh CE, Okpaka CO, Ubani CS, Okekeaji U, Joseph PS, et al. (2019) Natural pesticides (biopesticides) and uses in pest management-a critical review. Asian J Biotech Genetic Eng 2: 1-18.
- Rodriguez-Eugenio N, McLaughlin M, Pennock D (2018) Soil Pollution: A Hidden Reality. FAO, Rome, Italy.
- Walder F, Schmid MW, Riedo J, Valzano-Held AY, Banerjee S, et al. (2022) Soil microbiome signatures are associated with pesticide residues in arable landscapes. Soil Biol Biochem 174: 108830.
- Gao Y, Song X, Zheng W, Wu L, Chen Q, et al. (2022) The controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer driving the symbiosis of microbial communities to improve wheat productivity and soil fertility. Field Crop Res 289: 108712.
- Zhang Y, Ye C, Su Y, Peng W, Lu R, et al. (2022) Soil Acidification caused by excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer aggravates soil-borne diseases: Evidence from literature review and field trials. Agr Ecosyst Environ 340(1): 108176.
- Adekiya AO, Adebiyi OV, Ibaba AL, Aremu C, Ajibade RO (2022) Effects of wood biochar and potassium fertilizer on soil properties, growth and yield of sweet potato (Ipomea batata). Heliyon 8(11): e11728.
- Zhang R, Li Y, Zhao X, Allan Degen A, Lian J, et al. (2022) Fertilizers have a greater impact on the soil bacterial community than on the fungal community in a sandy farmland ecosystem, Inner Mongolia. Ecol Indic 140: 108972.
- Zhou B, Zheng X, Zhu Z, Qin Q, Song K, et al. (2022) Effects of fertilizer application on phthalate ester pollution and the soil microbial community in plastic-shed soil on long-term fertilizer experiment. Chemosphere 308: 136315.
- Sarkar S, Mukherjee I (2021) Effect of organic amendment on mobility behavior of flupyradifurone in two different indian soils. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 107(1): 160-166.
- Verdenelli RA, Lamarque AL, Meriles JM (2012) Short-term effects of combined iprodione and vermicompost applications on soil microbial community structure. Sci Total Environ 414: 210-219.
- Zhang PW, Wang SY, Huang CL, Fu JT, Huang RL, et al. (2018) Dissipation and residue of clothianidin in granules and pesticide fertilizers used in cabbage and soil under field conditions. Environ Sci Pollut R 25: 27-33.
- Han D, Yan D, Wang Q, Fang W, Wang X, et al. (2018) Effects of soil type, temperature, moisture, application dose, fertilizer, and organic amendments on chemical properties and biodegradation of dimethyl disulfide in soil. Land Degrad Dev 29(12): 4282-4290.
- Lin Z, Bai J, Zhen Z, Lao S, Li W, et al. (2016) Enhancing pentachlorophenol degradation by vermicomposting associated bioremediation. Ecol Eng 87: 288-294.
- Shalaby S, Abdou G (2010) The influence of soil microorganisms and bio- or -organic fertilizers on dissipation of some pesticides in soil and potato tubers. J Plant Protect Res 50(1): 86-92.
- Mehdizadeh M, Izadi DE, Naseri Pour MT, Rastgoo M, Malaekeh NB, et al. (2019) Impacts of different organic amendments on soil degradation and phytotoxicity of metribuzin. Int J Recycl Org Waste Agric 8: 113-121.
- Herrero HE, Andrades MS, Marin JM, Sanchez MJ, Rodriguez MS (2011) Field-scale dissipation of tebuconazole in a vineyard soil amended with spent mushroom substrate and its potential environmental impact. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 74(6): 1480-1488.
- Amin M, Raza Gurmani A, Rafique M, Ullah Khan S, Mehmood A, et al. (2021) Investigating the degradation behavior of Cypermethrin (CYP) and Chlorpyrifos (CPP) in peach orchard soils using organic/inorganic amendments. Saudi J Biol Sci 28(10): 5890-5896.
- Siedt M, Schaffer A, Smith KEC, Nabel M, Ross-Nickoll M, et al. (2021) Comparing straw, compost, and biochar regarding their suitability as agricultural soil amendments to affect soil structure, nutrient leaching, microbial communities, and the fate of pesticides. Sci Total Environ 751(10): 141607.
- Cheng H, Tang G, Wang S, Rinklebe J, Zhu T, et al. (2022) Combined remediation effects of biochar and organic fertilizer on immobilization and dissipation of neonicotinoids in soils. Environ Int 169: 107500.
- Parlavecchia M, D'Orazio V, Loffredo E, (2019) Wood biochars and vermicomposts from digestate modulate the extent of adsorption-desorption of the fungicide metalaxyl-m in a silty soil. Environ Sci Pollut R 26(35): 35924-35934.
- Jiang L, Lin JL, Jia LX, Liu Y, Pan B, et al. (2016) Effects of two different organic amendments addition to soil on sorption-desorption, leaching, bioavailability of penconazole and the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). J Environ Manage 167: 130-138.
- Singh NS, Mukherjee I, Das SK, Varghese E (2018) Leaching of Clothianidin in Two Different Indian Soils: Effect of Organic Amendment. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 100(4): 553-559.
- Perez LG, Gambin M, Navarro S (2020) Leaching behaviour appraisal of eight persistent herbicides on a loam soil amended with different composted organic wastes using screening indices. J Environ Manage 273: 111179.
- Tripathi S, Srivastava P, Devi RS, Bhadouria R (2020) Influence of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides on soil health and soil microbiology. Agrochemicals Detection, Treatment and Remediation, pp: 25-54.
- Liu H, Shan M, Liu M, Song J, Chen K (2022) Assessment of the eco-toxicological effects in zoxamide polluted soil amended with fertilizers-An indoor evaluation. Chemosphere 301: 134630.
- Akter R, Mukhles MB, Rahman MM, Rana MR, Huda N, et al. (2022) Effect of pesticides on nitrification activity and its interaction with chemical fertilizer and manure in long-term paddy soils. Chemosphere 304: 135379.
- Li Q, Zhang D, Cheng H, Ren L, Jin X, et al. (2022) Organic fertilizers activate soil enzyme activities and promote the recovery of soil beneficial microorganisms after dazomet fumigation. J Environ Manage 309: 114666.
- Chen J, Zhuang X, Xie H, Bai Z, Qi H, et al. (2007) Associated impact of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides on microbial communities in soils. World J of Microb Biot 23(1): 23-29.
- Rahman MM, Nahar K, Ali MM, Sultana N, Karim MM, et al. (2020) Effect of Long-Term Pesticides and Chemical Fertilizers Application on the Microbial Community Specifically Anammox and Denitrifying Bacteria in Rice Field Soil of Jhenaidah and Kushtia District, Bangladesh. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 104(6): 828-833.
- Rasool S, Rasool T, Gani KM (2022) A review of interactions of pesticides within various interfaces of intrinsic and organic residue amended soil environment. Chem Eng J Adv 11: 100301.
- Paul P, Ghosh U (2011) Influence of activated carbon amendment on the accumulation and elimination of PCBs in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Environ Pollut 159(12): 3763-3768.
- Mekahlia MN, Tine S, Menasria T, Amieur H, Salhi H (2016) In Vitro Biomarker Responses of Earthworm Lumbricus terrestris Exposed to Herbicide Sekator and Phosphate Fertilizer. Water Air Soil Poll 227: 15.
- Xie S, Feng H, Yang F, Zhao Z, Hu X, et al. (2019) Does dual reduction in chemical fertilizer and pesticides improve nutrient loss and tea yield and quality? A pilot study in a green tea garden in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China. Environ Sci Pollut R 26(3): 2464-2476.
- Tan S, Xie D, Ni J, Chen F, Ni C, et al. (2022) Characteristics and influencing factors of chemical fertilizer and pesticide applications by farmers in hilly and mountainous areas of Southwest, China. Ecol Indic 143: 109346.
- Ren J, Liu X, Yang W, Yang X, Li W, et al. (2021) Rhizosphere soil properties, microbial community, and enzyme activities: Short-term responses to partial substitution of chemical fertilizer with organic manure. J Environ Manage 299: 113650.
- Li Z, Jiao Y, Yin J, Li D, Wang B, et al. (2021) Productivity and quality of banana in response to chemical fertilizer reduction with bio-organic fertilizer: Insight into soil properties and microbial ecology. Agr Ecosyst Environ 322(1): 107659.
- Zhang Y, Gao W, Ma L, Luan H, Tang J, et al. (2023) Long-term partial substitution of chemical fertilizer by organic amendments influences soil microbial functional diversity of phosphorus cycling and improves phosphorus availability in greenhouse vegetable production. Agr Ecosyst Environ 341(1):108193.
- Han J, Dong Y, Zhang M (2021) Chemical fertilizer reduction with organic fertilizer effectively improve soil fertility and microbial community from newly cultivated land in the Loess Plateau of China. Appl Soil Ecol 165: 103966.
- Xu W, Liu W, Tang S, Yang Q, Meng L, et al. (2023) Long-term partial substitution of chemical nitrogen fertilizer with organic fertilizers increased SOC stability by mediating soil C mineralization and enzyme activities in a rubber plantation of Hainan Island, China. Appl Soil Ecol 182: 104691.
- Khursheed A, Rather MA, Jain V, Wani AR, Rasool S, et al. (2022) Plant based natural products as potential ecofriendly and safer biopesticides: A comprehensive overview of their advantages over conventional pesticides, limitations and regulatory aspects. Microb Pathog 173(Pt A): 105854.
- Ji C, Song Z, Tian Z, Feng Z, Fan L, et al. (2023) Enantioselectivity in the toxicological effects of chiral pesticides: A review. Sci Total Environ 857(3): 159656.
- Meng Z, Cui J, Li R, Sun W, Bao X, et al. (2022) Systematic evaluation of chiral pesticides at the enantiomeric level: A new strategy for the development of highly effective and less harmful pesticides. Sci Total Environ 846(10): 157294.
- An X, Wu Z, Shi W, Qi H, Zhang L, et al. (2021) Biochar for simultaneously enhancing the slow-release performance of fertilizers and minimizing the pollution of pesticides. J Hazard Mater 407: 124865.
- Chen Y, Jiang Z, Wu D, Wang H, Li J, et al. (2019) Development of a novel bio-organic fertilizer for the removal of atrazine in soil. J Environ Manage 233: 553-560.