Effect of pesticide application on soil microorganisms

Abstract

Modern agriculture largely relies on the extensive application of agrochemicals, including inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. Indiscriminate, long-term and over-application of pesticides have severe effects on soil ecology that may lead to alterations in or the erosion of beneficial or plant probiotic soil microflora. Weathered soils lose their ability to sustain enhanced production of crops/grains on the same land. However, burgeoning concern about environmental pollution and the sustainable use of cropping land have emphasized inculcation of awareness and the wider application of tools, techniques and products that do not pollute the environment at all or have only meager ecological concerns. This review covers the types of, concerns about and current issues regarding the extensive application of agrochemicals, in particular pesticides, on a variety of microorganisms integrated in successive food chains in the soil food web.

Keywords:

• microbiota
• pesticide
• biological degradation
• soil probiotic microbes

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the state government of Punjab, India for providing the necessary funding for carrying out of the research work.