ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS DURING THE PROTECTION OF POTATOES CROP. CERRO PUNTA, PANAMA.

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential ecological effects resulting from pesticide applications during the protection of potatoes crop. The BCA design with three chemical intensities was used; six replicates with the culture 382171.10 from the International Potato Center were planted at the Experimental subcenter of IDIAP at Cerro Punta. The following farming systems were evaluated: System without pesticide treatment, control (K); system with low intensity of pesticide applications (weekly: W) and system with high intensity on pesticide applications (twice/week: I). Treatments were done according to the local practice of the farmers with the pesticides: acephate, benomyl, cartap, chlorothalonil, deltamethrin, mancozeb, metalaxyl, oxadixyl, metribuzine, dimethoate, methamidophos, cyromazine, abamectin and oxamyl. Bioindicators of soil activity were determined at the Laboratory of IDIAP/Divisa; for that purpose, soil respiration, deshydrogenase activity and nitrification potential in soil samples collected at diferent time were tested. The results have shown very low inhibiting effects on the soil respiration; however, the deshydrogenase activity and the nitrification capacity were well affected in the range of 60-70% when treatment was intensive, this effect increased with time.