Effect of Pesticides on Crop, Soil Microbial Flora and Determination of Pesticide Residue in Agricultural Produce: A Review

Abstract

The review is carried out to represent the effect of pesticide exposure of plant on its growth and metabolism. Decades ago, pesticides were introduced aiming to increase the crop yields and protecting crops from pests. Pesticides are highly toxic chemicals and toxicity does not remain restricted to the target organisms only but also have negative impact on the environment's non-target organisms. Pesticide inhibit seed germination and enzymatic activity, reduces the growth, rate of photosynthesis and yield. Excessive use of pesticide results in pesticide residue in fruit, vegetable, seeds and in soil. Accumulation of pesticide in soil disturbs the microorganisms, soil enzymes such as hydrolases, oxidoreductases, dehydrogenase, phosphatase activities and other physiochemical characteristics of the soil which in turn affect the soil fertility. Therefore, the main goal of this paper was to examine how the pesticide application influence plant growth and development, altering biochemical and physiological processes as well as various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants which ultimately affect the yield and results in residues in plant, fruits and vegetables.