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Research Paper | Environmental Science Studies | India | Volume 5 Issue 3, March 2016

Effect of Malathion on Microbial Population, Acid and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity of Soil

Bonita Mahanta

Abstract: In this study the response of microbial populations, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities of microorganisms in garden soil after incorporation of the pesticide Malathion [S-1, 2-bis (ethoxycarbonyl) ethyl O, O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate] were examined. The effect of malathion was observed over a period of ten days in three different concentrations each viz. , 1 %, 0.5 % and 0.2 %. Total microbial count was highly affected in presence of malathion and persisted up to 7 days when the population of soil microbes was found to be highest in untreated soil sample (7.55x10^6 cells per gram of soil) followed by samples having 0.2 % (6.2x10^6 cells per gram), 0.5 % (1.4x10^6 cells per gram) and undiluted concentrations (0.6x10^6 cells per gram) of the pesticide. Phosphatase activity in soil was unaffected initially (up to 3 days) and then sharply decreased on day 7 with 10.359g/g/hr, 15.263g/g/hr, 14.44g/g/hr and 10.144g/g/hr of p-nitrophenol in control, 1 %, 0.5 % and 0.2 % concentrations of malathion treated soil respectively.

Keywords: Malathion, organophosphate pesticide, garden soil, microbial population, acid and alkaline phosphatase

Edition: Volume 5 Issue 3, March 2016,

Pages: 90 - 93