Impact of Agrochemicals on Soil Biota and Ways to Mitigate it: A Review
Suwa Lal Yadav
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat-388 110, India.
Devilal Birla *
Department of Agronomy, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat-388 110, India.
Devendra Kumar Inwati
Department of Soil Science, Jawahar Lal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Prades-482 004, India.
Manish Yadav
Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab-141 004, India.
Indra Raj Yadav
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh-404 702, India.
Sanjay N. Makwana
Department of Agronomy, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat-388 110, India.
Lakshman
Department of Agronomy, Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh-208002, India.
Neeraj Papnai
Department of Agronomy, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat-388 110, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Agricultural production is largely based on the use of agrochemicals in order to minimize pests, pathogens, and undesirable weeds toward increase production. In the current situation, however, several threats are emerging that threaten food security, human and environmental health, ecological balance, and soil biodiversity. Agrochemicals may shift beneficial microorganisms in the community over time, with potentially dangerous consequences, such as the development of antibiotic resistance. Farming systems utilizing agrochemicals might adversely affect soil microorganisms responsible for nutrient cycling processes, such as: nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilizing, and others. Some agrochemicals reduce soil enzyme activity and biochemical reactions, which are key indicators of soil microbiology. In this review, we explore how applied agrochemicals affect soil microbes and biochemical health attributes under different cropping systems, as well as ways to overcome the negative impacts of agrochemicals.
Keywords: Agrochemicals, soil microbes, environmental health, biotransformation, new generation pesticides