Assessing Pesticides and Fungicide on soil properties in western kentucky

Although fungicides and pesticides are often required, their proper use is crucial to maintaining soil health, guaranteeing the agricultural industry’s variability. The overuse of these fungicides and pesticides can harm the soil qualities. This research conducted at West Farm in Murray, Kentucky, examined the effects of fungicides and pesticides on soil health across six different fields: Pasture (Control), Corn (Trivapro), Soybean (Round up), Tobacco (Atrazine), Inter cropping (Soybean + Jute), and Miscanthus. The study measured key soil health indicators including bulk density (BD), macroporosity (MP), total porosity (TP), pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil water holding capacity (SWHC) through 24 soil samples with four replications per plot. Results showed significant variations, with Miscanthus demonstrating superior soil health characteristics across multiple parameters: lowest bulk density (1.09 g/cm³), highest total porosity (58.87%), highest macroporosity, best water holding capacity (30.39%), and highest SOM (7.34%) and SOC (4.26%). In contrast, maize showed the highest bulk density (1.49 g/cm³) and lowest total porosity (43.77%), while soybean had the lowest macroporosity (40.31%). Soil pH ranged from 7.05 in pasture to 7.50 in intercropping fields. These findings provide valuable guidance for farmers on how different agricultural chemicals affect soil health, helping them optimize chemical usage for better soil and crop production.