Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #77348
Title: EVALUATION OF EFFECTS OF COMMON AERIALLY APPLIED SOYBEAN HERBICIDES AND PROPANIL TO THE PLANKTON COMMUNITIES OF AQUACULTURE PONDS

Author
item PERSCHBACHER, PETER - UNIV OF AR AT PINE BLUFF
item STONE, NATHAN - UNIV OF AR AT PINE BLUFF
item Ludwig, Gerald

Submitted to: Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Aquaculture ponds are frequently located adjacent to soybean and rice fields. A variety of herbicides are aerially applied to these row crops to control weeds. Drift from herbicides may adversely affect the plankton community in fish culture ponds and consequently cause mortality or reduced production of fish. The effect of eight common, aerially-applied soybean herbicides and one rice herbicide on the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in fish culture ponds was determined. No significant effects were found for the soybean herbicides but the rice herbicide, propanil, reduced photosynthesis and consequently dissolved oxygen levels in the water to the extent that cultured fish would be adversely affected.

Technical Abstract: Eight, common, aerially-applied herbicides for soybeans were tested for possible adverse impacts on pond phytoplankton and zooplankton and critical water quality variables. Concentrations were chosen to simulate direct spraying of ponds and to bracket amounts of drift judged able to reach the pond. The study was conducted in 12, 500-1 outdoor pool mesocosms. Pond water was pumped from an adjacent fingerling rearing pond. Water quality measurements were made prior to application and at 24 h and 48 h after application. Commercial compounds tested were fomasefen, aciflourfen, bentazon, imazaquin, fluazifop, clethodim, chlorimuron, and glyphosate. In addition, propanil, a rice herbicide known to affect plankton from short term studies and of most concern to fish farmers in the Mississippi delta, was evaluated in the mesocosms over an extended 4 d period. The eight soybean herbicides produced no measurable effect on pond plankton or associated water quality. Propanil at the direct spray concentration reduced primary productivity and morning oxygen to critical levels for 2 d.