DOI: 10.56367/oag-052-12104 ISSN: 2516-3817
Soil health: The effects of pesticides
Lynette Abbott, Pankaj SinghSoil health: The effects of pesticides
Lynette Abbott and Pankaj Singh from The University of Western Australia highlight the relationships between pesticides and soil health. Pesticides are used to kill or control unwanted organisms. In agricultural systems, insecticides and fungicides are commonly used to promote healthy plant production. Insecticides target pests that damage leaves, flowers, or roots, while nematicides control nematodes, which damage roots. Fungicides and bactericides control fungal and bacterial pathogens that cause diseases on roots or leaves. However, some pesticides can negatively impact beneficial soil organisms that are not their intended target, with consequences for soil health.