Analysis of glyphosate in soil samples from a sugarcane field in Corozal Belize

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.9734132421109

• Palavras-chave: glyphosate, sugarcane crop, environmental contamination, chromatographic analysis

• Keywords: glyphosate, sugarcane crop, environmental contamination, chromatographic analysis

• Abstract:

  This paper presents the results of the analysis of soil samples from a sugarcane field in Ranchito, Corozal Belize for the presence of agrochemicals in them. Chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of glyphosate as the only compound present in 16 of the 20 soil samples analyzed.  The presence of glyphosate is an indication that this herbicide, classified as carcinogenic by the Cancer Research Center, is still being used. Therefore, the use of this herbicide carries a risk of contamination for both Belize and Chetumal due to the proximity of the fields to bodies of water located in these areas. In addition, the 20 soil samples were analyzed by measuring conductivity, pH, extractable nitrogen and phosphorus content. The average pH of the 20 samples analyzed was 6.94 ± 0.07 and for conductivity an average value of 0.605 ± 0.107 dS/m was calculated. The average phosphorus concentration of the 20 samples analyzed was 18.70 ± 3.26 mg/kg.  The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of glyphosate in soil samples from field plot of cultivated crops.