The Effect of Conventional and Nanoformulation Herbicide on Sphagneticola Trilobata

Abstract

The conventional herbicide 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) provide substantial risk to the environment such as contamination of soil and groundwater. The overuse application of conventional herbicide can leave harmful residues in soil and be washed off as runoff, thus causes toxic effect to nontarget organism. For instance, MCPA can cause toxicity to the freshwater organisms such as Daphnia magna and alga Selenastrum capricornutum. Zinc oxide as nanomaterials that are intercalated with 2-methyl-4chlorophenoxyacetic acid (ZMCPA) herbicide may be useful to resolve the problems associated with MCPA. Nanoherbicide are known to provide a better penetration of active substances hence reduces the amount of herbicide to be applied. The nanostructured herbicide such as ZMCPA could substantially replace the conventional herbicide MCPA if it able to kill the targeted weeds efficiently and have a low risk to the environment. Therefore, it is important to compare the differences of herbicidal activity of MCPA and ZMCPA. The objective of this research is to determine the effects of MCPA and ZMCPA on growth and pigment content of Sphagneticola trilobata. The 2nd objective of this research is to measure the physiological effect and effectiveness of herbicidal activity between the conventional and nanoformulation against Sphagneticola trilobata. The preliminary study was conducted to determine a minimal concentration for MCPA to exert its effect on Sphagneticola trilobata. Then, in the main research, Sphagneticola trilobata was exposed to different concentrations of MCPA and ZMCPA in low, medium and high concentrations. The effect of MCPA and ZMCPA on growth and pigment content of Sphagneticola trilobata was observed at 7, 14 and 21 days, respectively. The results indicated there were no obvious differences in plant growth and pigment content observed between treatment of MCPA and ZMCPA at the same exposure concentration at 7, 14 and 21 days, respectively. MCPA showed higher herbicide efficacy than ZMCPA.