Studies on insecticide usage pattern and pesticide residues in commercially grown curry leaf` crop

Abstract

Curry leaf (Murraya koeinigii) is commercially grown in Kayathar and Ottapidaram blocks of Tuticorin district in the southern part of Tamil Nadu, India. In the present study, the insecticide use pattern was investigated through a standard questionnaire and the residue on foliage was analyzed using QuEChERS method. Major pests reported by the farmers in this region were psyllids (Diaphorina citri) (93.33%) and whiteflies (Aleurodicus disperses) (84.44%) during the pre-monsoon season. It was revealed that curry leaf farmers relied mainly on insecticides for management of insect pests guided by local pesticide dealers and used as a cocktail mixture. Only 26.67 per cent of the farmers were aware of IPM options. Around 15 insecticides including four combination products were used in this region.The results of the residue analysis conducted on 30 farm-gate samples, show the presence of insecticide residues in 83.33 per cent of the samples.Though there is no MRL value available for curry leaf, the maximum level of residues was recorded in respect of profenophos (0.578 mg kg-1), Fenpropathrin (0.241 mg kg-1) and afidopyropen (0.197 mg kg-1). The results of the present study demand for the need of IPM awareness programme including educating the farmers and pesticide dealers on sensible use of recommended pesticides in curry leaf farming. So that curry leaf produced in this region can be are of pesticide-free.