Effect of sequential nicosulfuron and chlorpyrifos application on seed bank and soil microbial characteristics

Abstract

In the period of competition of weeds and the incidence of fall armyworm in the corn crop there is a need for herbicide and insecticide such as nicosulfuron and chlorpyrifos application within short time intervals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sequential applications of nicosulfuron and chlorpyrifos on the emergence of seedlings of the seed bank in the soil, the basal CO2 emission rate, and the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) of soil. Sequential applications of nicosulfuron (doses from 0 to 64 g ha-1) with or without chlorpyrifos (0 and 240 g ha-1) were performed. At 20, 40 and 60 days after application (DAA) of the products, the species of all seedlings that emerged from the seed bank were identified, and the frequency, density and abundance estimated, as well as the importance value IV. Sixty DAA the CO2 emission rate and CBM were were also determined, and based on the relationship between the accumulated CO2 and total soil MBC the metabolic coefficient (qCO2) was estimated. The application of nicosulfuron rates of over 20 g ha-1 severely affected the seedling dry weight and number of species. In the presence of the herbicide, the species with highest IV were Boehavia diffusa and Commelina bengalensis. There was a decrease in the basal soil respiration rate with increasing nicosulfuron doses, in the presence as well as in the absence of the insecticide chlorpyrifos. There was a linear decrease in MBC in all cases regardless of the chlorpyrifos application, although the reduction was 4.5 times greater in soil that received the combined application of the insecticide and nicosulfuron. The qCO2 confirmed the negative effect of the application of insecticide and herbicide. It was concluded that the application of chlorpyrifos + nicosulfuron causes a negative impact on the seeds in the soil and the soil microbial activity.