The effects of phenoxy herbicide MCPA on non-target vegetation in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) culture

Abstract

The presentation was made at the 8th international conference “The Vital Nature Sign” on 15–17 May, 2014 The study examined the non-target effects of phenoxy herbicide MCPA (4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy acid) on the morphological and physiological characteristics of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions. The experiment was conducted in 4 mesocoms plots (0.1 a) from May to August 2012. The plants were sprayed directly with herbicide spray solutions equivalent of recommended field application rate. The mea­sured endpoints were as follows: height of the shoots, length of the roots, dry biomass, concentrations of chlorophyll a, b, caro­tenoids, malondialdehyde (MDA). The yield of wheat and residues of MCPA in wheat tissues and soil were also estimated. It was observed that herbicide slightly reduced spring wheat stem height (by 9%, p < 0.05), increased root length (p > 0.05). Dry weight of spring wheat stems and roots decreased by 14% (p < 0.05) and 17% (p > 0.05), respectively. The herbicide did not evoke significant effect on the content of photosynthetic pigments and MDA in plant tissues. MCPA herbicide residues were observed only in soil and stems of spring wheat and were 0.97 μg/kg and 0.047 mg/ kg, respectively.