Report
Overseas Field Training：Investigation of herbicide usage and consequent contamination in upland soil and surface water in Petchaburi Province of Thailand
 |
 |
Piyanuch Jaikaew
Department of International Environmental and Agricultural Science
Destination and period: Thailand, 8 Aug. - 6 Sep., 2012
This study investigates an environmental impact which is influenced by herbicide used in agricultural land. The major focus is on the
increase of herbicide usage and consequent contamination in surface water and soil in Petchaburi Province of Thailand. The interview
to the local people indicated that 60 % of the population is engaged in agriculture and the rate of chemical fertilizers use was almost
100%. However some farmers are using chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers. Farmers use organic fertilizer at the rate of 500 grams
per acre to maximize productivity, during the rainy season from September to December. The weed growth was found to be associated with
the use of herbicides most farmers use Grammoxone and Paraquat were herbicide used in the most of the area. Farmers use these
herbicides of 1 liter per acre from March to August and apply 2 to 4 times in one month in the summer to rainy season. This study aims to
investigate herbicide usage and consequent contamination of municipal primary treatment in order to consider about herbicide fate and
transport in water and soil, for preventing or minimizing the problems and protecting the environment.
Key words: herbicide, contamination, upland soil, surface water