The Effect of Pesticide and Insecticide Use on Orchard Soils – A Case Study of Orchards in Dambovita County

Abstract In the early 2000s, the European Commission laid the groundwork for soil protection with a report titled “Towards a Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection”[1]. This report outlined guidelines for preserving and enhancing soil quality. As a result, understanding the levels of heavy metals in soils and their sources became a key priority for the European Union. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of pesticide and insecticide use on the soils of the main orchards in Dambovita County. Using WDXRF spectrometry, the elemental concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb were determined in samples collected from 10 points located in the main orchards of Dambovita County. The distribution maps obtained, as well as the comparisons made with the maximum allowable limits of pollutant elements in soils, demonstrated the impact that pesticide and insecticide use can have on soil.