Evaluation of Butachlor for Control of Submerged Macrophytes Along with Its Impact on Biotic Components of Freshwater System *1A
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Iran. J. Environ. Health. Sci. Eng., 2006, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 103-108 EVALUATION OF BUTACHLOR FOR CONTROL OF SUBMERGED MACROPHYTES ALONG WITH ITS IMPACT ON BIOTIC COMPONENTS OF FRESHWATER SYSTEM *1A. Chattopadhyay, 1S. Adhikari, 2S. P. Adhikary and 3S. Ayyappan 1Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, BBSR -751002, Ori ssa, India 2P.G. Dept. of Botany, Utkal University, BBSR -751004, Orissa, India 3D.D.G. Fisheries, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan, New Delhi, India Received 11 January 200 6; revised 25 February 200 6; accepted 26 Ma rch 200 6 ABSTRACT In this investigation, the efficacy of the herbicide butachlor, (N -butoxymethyl -2 chloro -21, 6 1 diethyl acetanilide) was tested against few common submerged macrophytes namely Hydrilla ( Hydrilla verticillata (L.) Royale), Najas ( Najas minor All.), Nechamandra ( Nechamandra alternifol ia (Roxb.) Thwaites) and Ottelia ( Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers.) of freshwater fish ponds. Almost complete decay of Hydrilla, Nechamandra and Ottelia was achieved at 7.5 L of active ingredient/ha/m butachlor within 15 days while the herbicide showed no neg ative effect on Najas. However at the same concentration of butachlor, total mortality of zooplankton and water fern Azolla ( Azolla caroliniana Lamarck) occurred within seven days. In case of few freshwater fish species like Rohu ( Labeo rohita), Channa (Ch anna punctatus), Anabas (Anabas testitudineus) and Heteropneustes (Heteropneustes fossilis) , total mortality occurred upto 90 days after application of the same dose of butachlor but fish survived beyond 120 days of herbicide application indicating degrada tion of the herbicides. Key words: Hydrilla verticillata, Najas minor, Nechamandra alternifolia, Ottelia alismoides, Azolla caroliniana , butachlor INTRODUCTION The use of pesticides whether herbicides or macrophytes and also to study the impact of this insecticides is indispensable in modern agriculture chemical on some important biotic components like technology to control pests or weeds for the fish, zooplankton and aquatic fern. production of more food and management of public health, both in developed and developing countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS Today about 4500 pesticides are in general use all Deternination of herbicide effect on submerged over the world, out of which 25 have high toxicity macrophytes potential to a wide range of flora and fauna of Herbicide selection economic importance (Adhikary and Sahu, 2001). Butachlor (50% EC) bearing trade name Hunter Most of these are not readily degradable but TM, manufactured by Hindustan Pulverising Mills, persists for a considerable period, thereby affecting India was used for the experiments. The selected aquatic biota, specially fish, which are very doses were 0.5 mL/10L water, 1.0 mL/10L water important due to their nutritive food value (Annon, and 1.5 mL/10L water which are equivalent to 1962). Herbicides are extensively used to control 2.5 L of active ingredient(a.i.)/ha/m (Litres of aquatic macrophytes in different parts of the active ingredient per hectare per meter), 5.0 L of world. The present investigation was taken up to active ingredient/ha/m and 7.5 L of active test the efficacy of butachlor against some ingredient/ha/m concentrations, respectively. dominant submerged freshwater angiospermic Experimental set-up *Corresponding author- Email: [email protected] The experiments were carried out in 20L glass Tel: +91 67 4246 5446, Fax: +91 67 4246 5407 jars using 10L of dechlorinated tap water under 103 A.Iran. Chattopadhyay, J. Environ. Health. et al., Sci.EVALUATION Eng., 2006, OF Vol. BUTACHLOR 3, No. 2, pp. FOR... 103-108 constant light and temperature conditions. The Determination of butachlor effect on survivability experiments were maintained in triplicates for of some freshwater fish species each concentrations and also for control. Four The following common freshwater fish were dominant freshwater submerged weeds namely selected for the experimental study: Hydrilla, Najas, Nechamandra and Ottelia collected from fish ponds were selected for the 1. Rohu of average weight 25 and average length study. 30 g of wet biomass for each of the first 15 cm. three species and fresh individual plants weighing 2. Channa of average weight 48.5 and average 50 ± 5 g for the fourth species were incubated in length 9.5cm. each jar at different concentrations of the herbicide. 3. Anabas of average weight 24 and average A soil base of 1kg soil/10L water was maintained length 9.5cm. at base of each experimental jar. The soil was 4. Heteropneustes of average weight 15.5 and also collected from the weed infested ponds and average length 18.2cm. spread uniformly on the bottom of the glass jars. After addition of herbicide observations were Experimental Set-up recorded in terms of biomass, upto 15 days or until Experiments were carried out in semi – pond the plant material decayed, which ever was earlier. conditions created using 2kg soil base per 20 L. dechlorinated tap water in 25L glass aquaria. Dose Determination of herbicide effect on Azolla for the herbicide was 7.5 L a.i./ha/m. Three sets caroliniana of replications were maintained for the treatment The study was conducted in 25 L glass jars using as well as for control. Number of fish kept in each 20 L of dechlorinated tap water under constant jar were 10 for Rohu , 6 for Channa, 6 for Anabas light and temperature conditions. Dose for and 4 for Heteropneustes, respectively. Fish were butachlor was 7.5 L a.i./ha/m. As this particular added to the system on the first, 7 th , 15th , 30 th , concentration was significantly effective in 45th , 60 th , 75 th , 90 th , and 120th days. Each time, the controlling macrophytes, its impact on other biotic observation of fish behaviour and survivability factors of freshwater system was studied. were made. Treatments and control were maintained in triplicates. In each jar 200 g of wet biomass of Water analysis Azolla , an aquatic fern often cultured for Some important physico-chemical parameters of biofertilization of fish ponds, were incubated for water like pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, a period of 7 days after which data was recoreded total alkalinity, total hardness, ammonia and in terms of biomass of Azolla. phosphate were determined before and after additions of herbicide to experimental jars using Determination of herbicide effect on standard laboratory methods (APHA, 1998). zooplanktons The physico-chemical condition of water in these Zooplanktons collected from fish ponds were experiments ranged between pH (7.4 to 8.3), cultured in laboratory conditions in glass jars using temperature (26 to 32°C), electrical conductivity N, P and K in the ratio 2: 1: 10 and cowdung using (0.120 to 0.463 mmhos/cm), total alkalinity (80 to pond water following standard methods. Dominant 150 mg/L as CaCO ), total hardness (50 to 130 species of the plankton population were Daphnia 3 mg/L as CaCO 3), total ammonia (0.01 to 0.03 mg/L) sp , Cyclops sp . a nd Moina sp. The experiments and soluble orthophosphate (0.03 to 0.10 mg/L) were conducted in 10L glass jars using for untreated and treated water, respectively. dechlorinated tap water under constant light and temperature regimes. Dose for butachlor was 7.5 Statistical analysis L of active ingredient/ha/m. Triplicates were The data were statistically analyzed using analysis maintained for treatment and control. Zooplanktons of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant were counted collectively on the first, 3 rd, 5 th , and differences in change of biomass of various weeds 7th day of the experiment using Nauber between control and different doses of butachlor haemocytometer chamber under a microscope. at P<0.05 level (Zar, 1996). 104 Iran. J. Environ. Health. Sci. Eng., 2006, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 103-108 RESULTS other macrophytes. All the three doses of the The effect of different concentrations of butachlor herbicide could effectively inhibit growth of this on the changes in the biomass of the submerged brood-leaved macrophyte. The plant was decayed macrophytes namely Hydrilla , Najas , within 8 days at 2.5 L a.i./ha/m butachlor. For 5.0 Nechamandra and Ottelia after 15 days of L of active ingredient/ha/m and 7.5 L of a.i./ha/m incubation are presented in Table 1. In case of of butachlor the time period of decay of Ottelia Hydrilla , ninety percent biomass inhibition was was 6 days and 4 days respectively. During the observed with 7.5 L a.i./ha /m of butachlor within course of decay of the macrophytes due to 15 days followed by forty percent and thirtynine application of herbicides, certain morphological percent biomass inhibition with 5.0 L a.i./ha/m and changes were observed. The leaves lost their 2.5 L a.i./ha/m butachlor respectively during the green colouration and turned yellowish. Apical same period of time. The maximum biomass growth was arrested. The stems were also inhibition at 7.5 L a.i./ha/m of the herbicide was discoloured. In Hydrilla , the stems became statistically significant in comparison to the other narrow and slender and the internodal space concentrations (C.D = 4.05, P = 0.05). There was between the leaf whorls increased. After decay no negative effect on biomass inhibition of Najas the entire plant biomass sank under water. The with any of the doses of butachlor upto 15 days. impact of butachlor on azolla and zooplankton are Butachlor at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 as indicated in Table 2. The entire biomass of L a.i./ha/m inhibited biomass upto 46, 57 and 74 Azolla was completely decomposed and sank at percent respectively within 15 days of incubation the bottom of the experimental jars within seven for Nechamandra . The biomass inhibition of this days of treatment with the herbicide indicating its macrophyte at the highest concentration of highly toxic nature.