Current status of agricultural pesticide pollution in Turkey and evaluation of alternative control methods

Abstract

Pesticide use is essential for sufficient quality and quantity production in modern agriculture. Uncontrolled and excessive pesticide use poses serious danger for human health, other living things and natural resources. It is necessary to keep track of pesticide sale and consumption data, to determine pesticide fate and transport mechanisms in the environment after application and monitoring pesticides in water sources for sustain efficient pesticide pollution control. Mathematical models are useful for the pesticide pollution control by time and money saving. It will also possible to investigate the applicability of natural treatment and alternative control methods in the basins such as Best Management Practices (BMP). As mentioned in this study, vegetated filter strip application as BMP reduces pesticide load over 40% in water sources. Decision Support Systems (DSS) are promising tool for assess the efficiency of BMPs. DSS are able to predict pesticide concentrations in the watershed that depends on pesticide types and watershed properties. In a DSS study, 1 meter vegetated filter strip application in tomato fields removes 40-60% pesticide concentration in receiving water bodies while reduces 15-20% pesticide pollution in the wheat fields in Oregon. With the increase of such studies at the national level, the control of pesticide pollution in agricultural basins with intensive pesticide use will be easier.