Identification status of pesticide residues and their effects on soil physiochemical properties at paddy field in Kuala Kedah, Kedah

Organochlorine and Organophosphate pesticides are neurotoxins and eventually affect human nervous system. Effects of both pesticides on soil physical and chemical properties are manifold and it can be determined through a comparative study as to develop healthy paddy cultivation environment. The present study was conducted to identify types of OCPs and OPs pesticides applied at paddy field in Kuala Kedah, Kedah. Present study also conducted to determine the OCPs and OPs effects on soil physical and chemical properties of paddy field in Kuala Kedah, Kedah. The result revealed that gamma-chlordane and dieldrin (OCPs pesticides) and parathion (OPs pesticides) were frequent applied at soil of paddy field in Kuala Kedah. Kedah. High percentage of gamma-chlordane. dieldrin and parathion could be detected at the soil. Soil with OCPs and OPs pesticides contained poor soil quality at different position of paddy field and both soil depths (0-30cm and 30-60cm) with lower moisture content (ranged from 4.75% to 5.22%), lower maximum water holding capacity (ranged from 49.18% to 64.14), lower pH (ranged from 5.22 to 6.12) and lower organic content (ranged from 4.38% to 6.58%). The present study showed that the soils at river site at both soil layers (0-30cm and 30- 60cm) were affected by pesticides runoff from the paddy field. The affected soil contained lower moisture content (4.20%, and 4.89%, respectively), lower maximum water holding capacity (44.58%, and 46.50%, respectively), lower pH (4.95, and 5.02, respectively) and lower organic content (4.69%, and 4.79%, respectively). The present study revealed that OCPs and OPs pesticides had altered the soil physical and chemical properties of paddy field in Kuala Kedah, Kedah.