Assessment of buffer zones to ditches of dicofol for different applied doses and replication numbers in pesticide applications in Adana province, Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the buffer zones for aquatic organisms of dicofol a.i. (active ingredient) in soybean, cotton, and peanut at recommended doses and replication numbers in the Adana province, Turkey. Thus, a theoretical basis of buffer zones to ditches of dicofol a.i. was evaluated and predicted at different applied doses and replications for soybean, cotton and peanut crops. Different applied doses of dicofol and replications in risk index (RI) were used for buffer zones to ditches, and risks to aquatic organisms, such as Daphnia, algae and fish were identified. Due to its lowest min(N0RM sub(w)) as a toxicological reference, only Daphnia was evaluated in this study. The calculations carried out suggest that buffer zones should be at least 1.8 m for soybean, requiring a dose of 2.5 L per ha, 2.2 m for cotton with 3.0 L per ha, and 2.6 m for peanut crops with 3.5 L per ha. The zones were determined assuming that RI equals to 1, and there was only one replication of dicofol application by conventional hydraulic sprayer. This study, with its results, may prove to be a pioneer one in Turkey, since there were no previous reports about assessment of buffer zones to ditches of dicofol a.i. for different doses and replications in pesticide applications in this country.