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The effect of some pesticides on asymbiotic N2-fixation in Egyptian soil

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Abstract

The effect of the application of a group of pesticides (Temik®, Stomp®, Dinoseb, Nata®, Dursban®, and Simazine 1 on N2-ase activity in Giza clay-loam soil under maize cultivation was investigated in the presence of 1 to 2% glucose or malate amendments. Field concentrations of all pesticides showed different inhibitory effects, and the effects increased with increased doses (10-and 100-fold) and incubation period (11 days). Temik and Stomp more seriously inhibited N2-ase activity than Dinoseb and Nata; Simazine and Dursban had the lowest effect. The effect of the field dose of Stomp on the patterns of N2-ase activity and development of N2-fixing spirilla and azotobacters in soil amended with glucose or malate was followed for a period of one month. Inhibitory effects on N2-ase activity as well as numbers of asymbiotic N2-fixers were marked during the first week of incubation, followed by a step wise recovery to normal levels by the end of the experiment. The deleterious effect of the tested pesticides was repeated in pure cultures of certain isolates of N2-fixing spirilla and azotobacters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    N. Hegazi, M. Monib, M. Belal, H. Amer & R. S. Farag

Authors
  1. N. Hegazi
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  2. M. Monib
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  3. M. Belal
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  4. H. Amer
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  5. R. S. Farag
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Hegazi, N., Monib, M., Belal, M. et al. The effect of some pesticides on asymbiotic N2-fixation in Egyptian soil. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 8, 629–635 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055043

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055043

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