Evaluating the Effects of Pesticide Residues on Soil Quality in Kota, Rajasthan: An SQI -Based Approach

Increasing dependence upon chemical pesticides in agriculture has raised concerns about their long-term prospects to affect soil health and ecosystem stability. The study looks at pesticide residues and the resultant quality of soil in the Kota region of Rajasthan through a comprehensive tool-the Soil Quality Index (SQI). Suggestions from previous work done on the reduction of soil quality in areas with heavy pesticide usage and working of SQI have been considered to select the major soil parameters for the present study, i.e., pH, organic carbon content, microbial activity, and heavy metal content. The results with respect to changes in soil have indicated that a prolonged use of pesticides has led to a steady decline in soil fertility characterized by low microbial diversity and nutrient retention capacity. Intercomparison suggests that a few of the soil parameters exhibit considerable bounds of decline, which may contribute to hazards against agricultural productivity and stability of the environment. The study underlines the need for better insecticide management practices, advocating biological options, crop rotation strategies, and Integrated Insect Management (IPM) techniques. By combining empirical data with established SQI functioning, the purpose of this research is to provide actionable insight for policymakers, environmental agencies, and local farmers to reduce soil degradation in Kota sector.