Effects of nicosulfuron on soil microbial respiration and biomass in an alfisol of

Southwestern Nigeria.

Adejoro S. A and Obadire T. T

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted in the soil laboratory of the Department of Crop, Soil and Pest
Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State Nigeria ( 7ᵒ16’N,5ᵒ12’E).
Soil samples were collected from the Experiment Station of the Teaching and Research Farm of
the University in an area with no pesticide treatment history during the last four years. Portions
of the soil (300 g each) were transferred into glass jars, and were treated with nicosulfuron
herbicide. Four treatments were evaluated namely: nicosulfuron at 40, 60, and 80 g a.i /ha.
Treatments also included a control where no herbicide was added. The laboratory experiment
was mounted for 28 days to determine the effects of nicosulfuron on certain biological indicators
of soil quality. Data were collected on soil respiration, microbial biomass carbon, soil organic
carbon, and eco-physiological quotients were calculated. Results showed that all the rates of
nicosulfuron inhibited carbon mineralization and microbial biomass C throughout the 4 weeks of
incubation. Evolution of CO2-C and biomass C under the influence of the herbicide was

negatively related to the rate of application of ncosulfuron. Results reveled further that qCO2 was
higher in the herbicide treated soil samples than in the control soil. This is an indication that the
soil microbial community was greatly perturbed by all the rates of the herbicide applied. It was
therefore concluded that nicosulfuron at the applied field recommended rates were harmful to
soil microbes in an alfisol within the period of incubation used in this study. It was however
recommended that the experiment be repeated under field conditions in an alfisol.

Key words: Nicosulfuron, carbon mineralization, microbial biomass, qCO2