IMPACT OF ATRAZINE AND BROMOXYNIL ON THE COLONY FORMING UNITS (CFU) OF SOIL BACTERIA

According to overwhelmingly positive effects throughout time, herbicide treatment has become a crucial component of thriving agricultural output worldwide. However, its detrimental effects on non-target soil microorganisms involved in the nitrogen cycle, nutrient degradation, and organic matter breakdown must be considered. In the current study, the consequences of the two (2) herbicides that are most often used in Pakistan, Atrazine and Bromoxynil, were evaluated on soil bacteria over the course of fifteen consecutive days (exposure period). Recommended field rate of herbicide application was followed (i.e. active ingredient of 6.17 mg for Atrazine and 2.4 mg for Bromoxynil per gm of soil). During the investigations half and double recommended doses of these herbicides were used. Time interval of 5, 10 and 15 days were used to determine the bacterial populations. Statistical analysis of the investigation revealed that the bacterial population did not exhibit any appreciable variations in relation to the exposure duration (p 0.05). The Atrazine application along with the herbicide treatments, reduced the bacterial population during all the tested interval durations with just half of the suggested field rate. The current study reflected that apart from the benefit of herbicides in controlling weeds these chemicals also effect bacterial population that is a serious issue for present and future agriculture. Further, the same study needs to be perform under field conditions to confirm the finding of laboratory results before issuing solid recommendations to the farming community.