Impacto y riesgo ambiental del uso de pesticidas en cultivos de la cuenca del arroyo Ludueña, Santa Fe

Abstract

The objetive of this work was to study the environmental impacts and risks caused from the application of pesticides on crops in a basin south of Santa Fe, Argentina. The work was developed in the rural basin of Ludueña stream, in soybean, corn and wheat, of eight production systems, two soybean monocultures, two crop rotations, four mixed, with wintering and dairy farm. The information in the annual management of pesticides was surveyed. The coefficient of environmental impact and environmental risk index pesticides used in crop production systems was calculated. The major negative impacts and environmental risk occurred by the inclusion of corn rotations. In the mixed system wintering larger scale impacts were highest in all crops. A significant association was found between indicators, the major negative environmental impacts matched with increasing environmental risks produced by pesticides applied. Both indicators were useful to assess the impact of pesticides on different production systems. The management of pesticides can be optimized and make a primary food production compatible with the growing social demands oriented towards safety.