Assessing environmental impacts of pesticide usage in oiled seed ecosystems using environmental pesticide pressure indicators: a case study of groundnut in Loukkos plain, north-west Morocco

Mohamed Abbou (), Mohamed Chabbi (), Mohammed Ayadi, Said Zantar and Mohamed Benicha ()
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Mohamed Abbou: National Institute for Agricultural Research
Mohamed Chabbi: Abdelmalek Essâadi University, Faculty of Science and Technology
Mohammed Ayadi: National Institute of Agricultural Research
Said Zantar: National Institute for Agricultural Research
Mohamed Benicha: National Institute for Agricultural Research

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2024, vol. 26, issue 2, No 23, 3349-3367

Abstract: Abstract Loukkos perimeter, north-western of Morocco, is characterized by a strong dynamic of production systems, and a diversification of agricultural practices that require intensive use of pesticides due to activities of a spectrum of diseases and pests. Regarding the groundnut cultivation, it is mainly widespread in this Moroccan area, and it relies heavily on the intensive use of chemical inputs including pesticides. Unfortunately, this pesticide use poses significant health and ecological threat through the presence of residues in food, groundwater and surface water, especially since some alarming practices, and their impacts are, in most cases, poorly known, such as mixing of pesticides. This study focuses on the evaluation of the pressure of pesticide use on groundnut crop, and their impacts on the environment and human health from the determination of agro-environmental indicators (NT, QASI, TFI and EIQ) through field surveys conducted on 94 different groundnut farms representing an area of 313 ha. The results showed that groundnut crop is characterized by heavy pesticide use with an average treatment frequency of 9.97 treatments per cycle, dominated by herbicide treatments and by a variety of products used; 20 commercial products corresponding to 17 different active ingredients, including herbicides (71%), fungicides (22%) and insecticides (7%). According to survey results, all weed treatments were carried out by mixing two to three herbicides. The worst identified agricultural practice was that some of the pesticides used are not registered on this crop and used irrationally. For pesticide pressure, the average total TFI determined is 14.94. Moreover, in this study, the quantity of active substances indicator (QASI) was estimated for the first time revealing an increased use of pesticides equal to 6.17 kg/ha. These values show a heavy use of pesticides, which may be a major obstacle to long-term sustainable development because of their environmental and health risks.

Keywords: Agro-environmental indicator; Hazard to human and ecosystems; Ecological risk; Pesticide use intensity; Oilseed crop; Agricultural impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02828-z

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