An Assessment of Carbaryl Residues on Brinjal Crop in an Agricultural Field in Bikaner, Rajasthan (India)

Solanum melongena Linn. (brinjal) is the most common, popular and principal vegetable crop grown in many geographical parts in India. This staple vegetable crop is extensively damaged by the insects and farmers use large quantities of chemical insecticides, Carbaryl being one of them. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the persistence of Carbaryl on brinjal (fruit) and soil in an agricultural field in Bikaner (28oN latitude and 73o18!E longitudes), Rajasthan, India. The residues in soil progressively declined up to 60 days but became non-detectable during the next sampling at 75 th day. The dissipation of insecticide was faster during the first 8 days as compared to latter period , while, on fruits the initial deposit of 11.47 ppm from 0.2% carbaryl spray was dissipated to 9.93ppm within one day after treatment recording thereby a decrease in residue to about 13.40 percent. After 25 th day residues were non-detectable representing 100% dissipation. It may be concluded from the observations of the present study that the residues of the pesticide Carbaryl in soil became non-detectable after 60 days of spraying; while, on crops it persisted upto 15 days.