“STUDIES ON CONTAMINATION LEVEL OF PESTICIDES RESIDUES ON GRAPE GROWING SOILS IN NASHIK DISTRICT”

Nashik is well known as “Grape City” in the Maharashtra state. Soil samples were collected from different villages of leading grape growing areas of Nashik district and analyzed for its pesticides residue using multiresidue pesticide analysis technique by LCMS/MS and GCMS/MS instruments. Pesticides were detected in 73.33% of the soil samples collected. Concentration and percent contamination of pesticides residues were determined. In the tested soil samples residues of various pesticides were found, the pesticides which are found in notable amount are: Azoxystorbin (1.2-3 ppb, 53.33%), Carbendazim (2.2-9.2 ppb, 13.33%), Dimethomorph (2-17.3 ppb, 66.66%), Clothianidin (1.6-2.5 ppb, 26.66%), Imidacloprid (1.9-27.2 ppb, 40%) etc. Apart from this during our study to our great surprise in two soil samples we have found the residues of pp-DDE, an isomer of DDT (3-17 ppb) which is already banned. The presence of banned pesticide residues in soil sample is a matter of concern for future food chain accumulation and human health also. The right awareness about the use of pesticides will thus be useful for sustainable farming