International Journal of Agricultural

Science and Research (IJASR)

ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087
Vol. 4, Issue 6, De c2014, 115-118
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

STUDY ON HERBICIDES RESIDUES AT HARVESTING IN RICE-WHEAT CROPPING

SYSTEM
H.K.SACHAN & D.KRIS HNA
Depart ment of Agriculture, College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National Un iversity, Republic of Fiji

ABSTRACT
A herbicidal schedule consisting of spray application @ 1.5 kg ai/ha of butachlor applied after 4 days of
transplanting of rice sowing fro m the point of view of residue build up and its determination, revealed non -detectable
(< 0.001 g g -1 ) residue of the herbicide in soil, rice grain and straw at the time of harvest. Similarly a herbicidal schedule
consisting of spray application 1.0 kg a.i./ha of isoproturon applied after 35 days after wheat sowing respectively fro m the
point of view of residue build up. Analysis revealed non-detectable (< 0.001 g g -1 ) residue of the herbicides in soil, wheat
grain and straw at the time of harvest. Study revealed that continuous use of these herbicides did not cause residue build up
in soil, grain and straw of the crops.

KEYWORDS: Butachlor, Isoproturon, Herbicides Residues

INTRODUCTION
Butachlor an N-butoxy methyl-2-Chloro -2, 6-d i ethylacetanillde, is amongst the most potent and extensively used
systemic herbicide for controlling grassy weeds in rice. It is absorbed primarily by the emerging shoots and secondarily by
roots with translocation throughout the plant. The continuous use of butachlor on rice crop can cause its accumulation in
rice grain, soil and straw but the residue remaining at the time of harvest should not pose any health threat to both humans
and animals, i.e. it should be below maximu m tolerance limit.
Isoproturon an (N-N-d imethyl-N (3-isopropyl) phenyl urea), is amongst the most potent and widely used
translocated herbicide for controlling grassy weeds in wheat. When it is applied to the soil it is translocated to the foliage
and mature leaves turns light green in colour followed by burning at the tips. Continuous use of isoproturon in wheat crop
in this cropping sequence has led to build up of this herbicide in soil at dete ctable levels (Barooach et al., 1996).It is
accumulated in wheat grain, soil and straw but the residue remaining at the time of harvest should not pose any health
hazard to both humans and animals, i.e. it should be below maximu m tolerance limit. Thus, the present investigation was
under taken to determine residues of butachlor and isoproturon herbicides in soil, grain and straw at harvesting resulting
fro m the continuous application of both herbicides, to provide safeguard against the weeds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A long term trial on weed control studies in rice -wheat system has been in progress since 1990-1991. In rice
butachlor was applied @ 1.5 kg ai/ha for checking the rice weeds and in wheat isoproturon was applied @ 1.0 kg ai/ha for
checking the wheat weeds. In 2004 and 2005, the rice (cv. Narendra 359) and during the years 2003 -04 and 2004-05 in
wheat crop (cv. PBW-343) were sown at Crop Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology,
Pantnagar, Uttarakhand India. Butachlor was sprayed after 4 days of transplanting of rice and isoproturon was sprayed after

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H.K.Sachan & D.Krishna

35 days of sowing of wheat. The rice crop was harvested in November in both the years and wheat crop was harvested in
the month of April in both the cropping seasons. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD)
with three replications. At the time of harvest, samples of soil, grain and straw were collected fro m the herbicide treated
plots.
Instrumentation
A Beckman HPLC equipped with selectable wavelength absorbance detector, Kipp and Zonen BD-40 recorder,
Rheodyne injector, 100 A pump ,150 x 4.5 mm i.d. packed with 5 m silica bonded with C 18 (ODS) - Hichro me colu mn
was used. The following parameters were maintained for analysis: mobile phase 80:20 (Methanol: wat er v/v), flo w rate:
1.0 mL min -1 , Wavelength: 254 n m, chart speed: 1 cm min -1 , attenuation: 0.020 aufs.
Extraction Methodol ogy
A 10 g sample of rice grain and soil and 5g sample of straw were extracted with dichloro methane (2 x 20 mL)
after shaking for an hour on a wrist action shaker. The contents were filtered through Whatman no. 42 filter paper and the
filtrate was concentrated to about 20 mL. It was then partitioned with 20 mL of water. After part itioning the
dichloro methane layer was collected and anhydrous 2 g hot Na 2 SO4 was added therein for absorption of any water content.
The solution was filtered out and the filtrate was concentrated to about 0.5 mL under reduced pressure. Thereafter,
a silica gel colu mn was prepared and after washing it with dichloro methane the sample was loaded on to the column.
The sample was eluted with (90:10) d ichloro methane-acetone mixture and evaporated under reduced pressure at 321C.
The residue was finally made up to 2 mL in the mobile phase.
The reference standard of butachlor of 95.4% purity was obtained from M/s Herbicide India, Jaipur and reference
standard of isoproturon of 98.0% purity was obtained from M/s Gharda Chemicals, Mumbai used for quantification,
recovery and determination of the retention time of the herbicide. The soil, grain and straw samp les were fortified with 100
ppm levels (1mL) for assessing the per cent recovery.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The retention time of butachlor under the present experimental conditions was found to be 5.5 min. The mean
recovery for soil, grain and straw for 2 years was found 79%, 78.8% and 82.4 %respectively. The minimu m detection limit
of the herbicide on the above HPLC system was 0.001g g -1 .The analysis revealed that no residues of butachlor were
detectable at the time of harvest in soil, rice grain and in rice straw (Table-1). These results were in corroboration with the
findings of several other workers (Rajendra et. al. 1999, Reddy et al. 1998 and Wang et. al. 1999) who reported a faster
rate of butachlor dissipation under tropical conditions.
Table 1: Per Cent Recovery after Fortification and Harvest Ti me Residue of B utachl or in Soil, Rice Grain and Rice
Straw
Sample
Soil
Rice grain
Rice straw

Recovery (% )
2004
2005
75.0
83.04
77.5
80.1
83.2
81.6

ND* =Non detectable (< 0.001 g g -1 )

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.3594

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

117

Study on Herbicides Residues at Harvesting in Rice-Wheat Cropping System

The retention time of isoproturon under the present experimental conditions was found to be 5.5 min the mean
recovery for soil, grain and straw for 2 years was found 76%, 78.5 % and 85.7 % respectively. The minimu m detection
limit of the herbicide on the above HPLC system was 0.001g g -1 .The analysis revealed that no residues of isoproturon
were detectable at the time of harvest in soil, wheat grain and in wheat straw (Table -2). These results were in corroboration
with the findings of several other workers (Perrin,et al.,and Roberts et al) who reported a faster rate of isoproturon
dissipation under tropical conditions.
Table 2: Per Cent Recovery after Fortification and Harvest Ti me Residue of Isoproturon in Soil, Wheat Grai n and
Wheat Straw
Sample
Soil
Wheat grain
Wheat straw

Recovery (% )
2003-04 2004-05
78.2
77.0
79.0
79.5
77.4
88.2

ND* =Non detectable (< 0.001 g g -1 )

Chemical analysis showed non-detectable (< 0.001 g g -1 ) residue of both the herbicides in soil, rice and wheat
grain as well as straw at the time o f harvest. Study revealed that continuous use of these herbicides did not cause residue
build up in soil, grain and straw of the crops.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The technical grade butachlor of 95.4% purity supplied by M/S Herbicide India, Jaipur and the technical grade
isoproturon of 95.4% purity supplied by M/S Gharda Chemicals, Mumbai is duly acknowledged.

REFERENCES
1.

Rajendra, K. and Lourduraj, A.C. (1999). Residual effect of herbicides in rice-ecosystem. A. Review, Agr.
Reviews Karnal.20 (1): 48-52.

2.

Reddy, K.N.; Rao, B.N.; Su ltan, M.A.; Reddy, D.S. and Babu, T.R. (1998) Residues of butachlor in paddy, J. of
Res. ANGRA U. 26(3-4):48-49.

3.

Wang, Y.S. and Wang, Y.S. (1999). Environmental impact of herbicide use in sub tropics. Food Sci. and Agr.
Chem. 1(3):165-179.

4.

AICRP-WC (2001-02).Final Technical Report. All India Co-ordinated Res. Prog. On Weed Control. NRCWS,
Jabalpur, p 64.

5.

Barooach, A.K.; Goswami, M.M., Deka, K.C. and Thakur, A.C. (1996).Terminal residues of triazopos and
butachlor in rice grain and straw. Proceedings of the Seminar on Problems and Prospects of the Agricultural
Research

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North-East-India,

Assam Agricultural

Universality,

Jorhat,

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27-28.Nov.1995,331-334
6.

Malik, R.K. and Singh, S. (1995).Little canary grass(Phalris minor) resistance to isoproturon in India. Weed
Technology, 9:419-425.

7.

Perrin, G.C.; Brenzin, C.; Portal, J.M. and Schaiavon, M. (1996).Avalability and persiatance of isoproturon under

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editor@tjprc.org

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H.K.Sachan & D.Krishna

field and laboratory conditions. Ecotoxicology and Environ.Safety.35 (3):226-230.

8.

Roberts, T.R. (1998).Metabolis m Pathways of Agrochemicals Part-I. P.188 and 735.

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.3594

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0