Fipronil residual content in the soil for the control of Oryzophagus oryzae in subsequent flooded rice crops

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of fipronil (a.i.) residual content in the soil of flooded rice fields, for the control of Oryzophagus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in subsequent rice cultivations. In 2010/2011, plots (25x55 m) were installed with three treatments: 30 g fipronil (a.i.) 100 kg-1 seed; mixture of 1/3 treated seed (30 g fipronil 100 kg-1 seed) with 2/3 untreated seed equivalent to 10 g fipronil (a.i.) 100 kg-1 seed; and a control without insecticide application. The plots were regrown in 2011/2012, 2012/2013, and 2013/2014 without any insecticide application. The following variables were evaluated: number of larvae and adults from standard samples of soil and roots, and grain yield. In 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, the concentrations of fipronil and of its residues in the soil of plots were evaluated by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and the metabolite fipronil-sulfide (≤ 1.1 μg kg-1) was detected. In the three seasons, after the use of seeds treated with 10 and 30 g fipronil, the average larval infestation of O. oryzae was 65.2 and 96.1% lower, and the average of rice grain yield was 16.9 and 25.5% higher than in the control plot, respectively. The residual fipronil content in the soil, mainly of the highest dose, effectively controls the insect.