Analysis of the Carbofuran Pesticide Residue in the Water from Banana Plantation in Wayanad District, Kerala, India

Abstract

This research focused on the pesticide residue analysis of water samples collected from five different parts of Wayanad district of Kerala state, India. The main plantation of the inhabitants here is banana, which always requires a protection from pesticides for satisfactory yield. This is due to its low pest resistance. The unscientific and increased use of harmful pesticides in the banana planted land has resulted in enhanced soil and water pollution. Extraction and quantification of pesticide residues from the water sample was carried out by using optimized cleaning procedures and concentration methods using HPLC. The recovery of carbofuran from the water varied from 0.186-0.262 ppm. Most of the samples contained carbofuran in varying concentrations. The amount of carbofuran retained from the water sample from five different places in Wayanad district varied in the order Thavinjal < PeriyaII < Periya I < Alattil < Vengoor < Varayal. This result could be very well correlated with the pH of the soil from which the water was collected. Other factors such as manuring of the soil, moisture content, climatic conditions and temperature (below 35 ºC) etc., were also examined for possible correlations, but none of them was found to be directly influencing the presence and persistence of carbofuran in the water.