Effect of living winter cover crops on pesticide concentrations in soil and soil solution in temperate agroecosystems
(2024) Centennial IUSS — Location: Florence (19.May.2024)
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- Abstract
- (en) Throughout the growing season, fertiliser and pesticide applications take place mainly in spring and summer. However, the greatest risk of these chemicals leaching into the soil and water occurs in autumn and winter, when increased rainfall and reduced crop growth facilitate aquifer recharge. While avoiding the use of agrochemicals remains the optimal strategy to prevent soil and groundwater pollution, a number of practices can reduce the risks. As part of crop diversification strategies and in addition to their many other ecosystem services, the effectiveness of living winter cover crops (catch crops) in reducing nitrate leaching during this period is well documented in the scientific literature and has been widely advocated over the years. However, their comparable effect on pesticide leaching remains a generally under-explored area of research. This study aims to determine the potential extension of the removal capacity of catch crops to pesticides, by assessing the influence of a living winter cover crop on residual pesticide levels from the previous growing season in agricultural soils. To this end, we quantify the concentrations of 18 pesticides (9 herbicides, 6 fungicides, 1 insecticide, 2 safeners) in both soil and soil solution samples and compare their evolution over time under three conditions: (i) a winter catch crop (a multi-species cover crop); (ii) a winter cash crop (a winter cereal crop); and (iii) bare soil as a control modality. This comparison is carried out in 10-litre pots in a greenhouse. The cover crops are sown in early January 2024. Soil solution samples are collected three times between January and April 2024, using micro-rhizons (Rhizosphere®) and are analysed by LC-MS/MS for the quantification of pesticide and residue concentrations. Soil samples are collected according to the same schedule, extracted using QuEChERS and processed by LC-MS/MS. The experiment will be completed in April and aims to provide critical insights into the potential of living winter cover crops to mitigate pesticide leaching into agroecosystem soils and aquifers.
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Vandevoorde, N., Turine, I., Blondel, A., & Agnan, Y. (2024). Effect of living winter cover crops on pesticide concentrations in soil and soil solution in temperate agroecosystems. Centennial IUSS, Florence. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/240543