Effect of Organic Residues on Pesticide Behavior in Soils: A Review of Laboratory Research

The management of large volumes of organic residues generated in different livestock, urban, agricultural and industrial activities is a topic of environmental and social interest. The high organic matter content of these residues means that their application as soil organic amendments in agriculture is considered one of the more sustainable options, as it could solve the problem of the accumulation of uncontrolled wastes while improving soil quality and avoiding its irreversible degradation. However, the behavior of pesticides applied to increase crop yields could be modified in the presence of these amendments in the soil. This review article addresses how the adsorption-desorption, dissipation and leaching of pesticides in soils is affected by different organic residues usually applied as organic amendments. Based on the results reported from laboratory studies, the influence on these processes has been evaluated of multiple factors related to organic residues (e.g., origin, nature, composition, rates, and incubation time of the amended soils), pesticides (e.g., with different use, structure, characteristics, and application method), and soils with different physicochemical properties. Future perspectives on this topic are also included for highlighting the need to extend these laboratory studies to field and modelling scale to better assess and predict pesticide fate in amended soil scenarios.

Automated summary

The application of organic residues as soil organic amendments is considered a sustainable option to solve the problem of uncontrolled waste accumulation, improve soil quality, and avoid irreversible degradation. However, the behavior of pesticides in soil can be affected by the presence of organic residues. Laboratory studies have shown that different factors related to organic residues, pesticides, and soil properties can influence processes such as adsorption-desorption, dissipation, and leaching of pesticides in soil. Future research is needed to extend these findings to field and modeling scales for a better assessment and prediction of pesticide fate in amended soil scenarios.