Effects of herbicides application on soil physicochemical properties

Opadokun Wasiu Olanrewaju, Olorunmaiye Kehinde Steph, Adekola Olabisi Fatimoh, Ojumoola Olusegun Adebayo, Tijani Idowu Abdulfatah

Abstract: Twelve-week field experiment was conducted at Irewumi community, in Ilorin west local government area of Kwara state, to investigate the influence of S-metolachlor and Nicosulfuron herbicides on soil physicochemical properties. The experiment was a complete randomized block design with six treatments and four replicates. The treatment details include T0 = pre-treatment; T1 = 3 L/ha of S-metolachlor; T2= 6 L/ha of S-metolachlor; T3 = 1.5 L/ha of Nicosulfuron; T4 = 3 L/ha of Nicosulfuron and T5 = weedy check. Physico-chemical properties, such as soil temperature, moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, exchangeable acidity, Nitrogen and soil organic matter were evaluated during the study. Both herbicides with the aforementioned active ingredient applied at a rate, which was twice the recommended rate significantly reduced soil organic carbon, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and exchangeable acidity, although the decrease in soil temperature, and moisture and electrical conductivity were found to be statistically insignificant. It is worthy of note that soil treated with recommended application rate significantly increased all the soil physicochemical properties evaluated in this study. Therefore, the end users of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides containing S-metolachlor and Nicosulfuron, should adhere strictly to the recommended application rate to minimize the detrimental impact on soil physicochemical properties.

Keywords: herbicides; Nisosulfuron; physicochemical properties; S-metolachlor; soil; weeds

Date published: 2023-06-09