Use of phytosanitary products in production systems and their environmental impact in the El morro basin (San Luis, Argentina)

Abstract

The El Morro basin (San Luis, Argentina) underwent changes in land use, transitioning from areas with pastures and native forests to cultivated areas. This shift was accompanied by new production paradigms that increased the use of pesticides. Through surveys of farmers and agricultural advisors, the use of pesticides and their impact were evaluated using the Environmental Impact Quotient for field (EIQc) and control strategy (EIQe). The results indicate that over 70% of the pesticides used are targeted at weed control. Only some molecules had a medium or high impact rating based on EIQc. Agricultural systems use the highest number of molecules per application and exhibit elevated EIQe values. These findings suggest that using the EIQ as a management tool before implementing agricultural activities could help identify strategies with lower environmental impact.