Monitoring Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Crops in the Republic of Azerbaijan
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Abstract
Introduction: The article presents studies (2020–2024) in Sheki-Zagatala economic region on the dynamics of pesticides to determine residual amounts of pesticides in plant samples of various agricultural crops as part of registration tests using gas and liquid chromatography methods. In order to reduce the risk of contamination of various classes of chemical compounds with pesticides, monitoring studies of the content of residual quantities of active substances of pesticides at trace levels in various agricultural crops are carried out as part of registration tests, which make it possible to assess compliance with pesticide application regulations and decide on the possibility of using the resulting products for food and feed purposes.
Methods: A method for determining microquantities of pesticides in plant products (apples, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes), soil and water has been developed.
Results: In the period 2020–2024, 366 units of preparations were analyzed, of which 86 in 2020, about 60–69 in 2020–2022 and 89 in 2023 on various samples of agricultural crops (green mass, grain, straw, seeds, oil). In winter grain crops (wheat, triticale, barley, rye) in the period 2020-2025, residual amounts of 31 AS were detected in various matrices, including in 30 cases in straw, where the MPL is not standardized, and in 5 cases in green mass, where the MPL is also not standardized. The following were detected in straw and green mass: propiconazole, cyproconazole, azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, tebuconazole, spiroxamine, prothioconazole destio, fluopyram, fluoxastrobin, alpha-cypermethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin - 0.006-0.9754 mg/kg. Three active fungicidal substances were detected in the harvest in the amount of 0.00280–0.01320 mg/kg without exceeding the MPL.
Conclusions: Based on the analyzed data obtained in the conditions of the pesticide dynamics laboratory, it can be concluded that contamination of food products with pesticides in the Azerbaijan Republic is practically absent, which is a consequence of the mandatory registration procedure for plant protection products. Thus, the use of recommended regulations for the use of preparations, compliance with their consumption rates and waiting periods makes it possible to guarantee a safe and clean harvest of agricultural crops.