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Abstract

Reddy, G.V.S., B.R. Reddy and V. A.K.B. Gundi. 2011. Phosphatase activity in agricultural soils under the influence of insecticide combinations. JEMREST 7:50-55

DOI: 10.4029/2011jemrest7no005

In view of increasing usage of combination of insecticides for control of pests in agriculture, interaction effects of the insecticides monocrotophos and quinalphos (organophosphates), and cypermethrin (pyrethroid), on phosphatase activity in two agricultural soils—red alfinsol soil and black vertisol soil were tested for 30 days under laboratory conditions. Individual application of the three insecticides at 5, 10 and 25 μg g⁻¹ to the soil distinctly enhanced the phosphatase activity. Insecticide combinations involving monocrotophos or quinalphos with cypermethrin yielded synergistic, antagonistic and additive interaction effects on the enzyme in the soils. At lower levels, 5 and 10 μg g⁻¹, the insecticides in combination interacted additively or synergistically towards phosphatase enzyme. However, both combinations at the highest level of 25 μg g⁻¹ yielded an antagonistic interaction, with a reduction in enzyme activity to a level lower than that of the control. These type of interaction responses were persistent even for 30 days.