Effects of biochar amendment on sorption, dissipation, and uptake of fenamiphos and cadusafos nematicides in sandy soil.

Background: The application of biochar to soil is supposed to alter its adsorption/desorption potential toward pesticides, thereby affecting their bioavailability and efficacy. This is particularly relevant in the case of nematicides because these pesticides are directly applied to soil.

Results: Biochar was produced from date palm (PB) and eucalyptus (EB) waste at 450 °C and added at a rate of 1% to a sandy soil.

Monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetables marketed in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

A total of 23 pesticides from different chemical groups in 160 different domestic vegetables collected from four major big supermarkets located in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, were identified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Residues were found in 89 of the 160 samples and 53 samples were above the maximum residue levels (MRLs). The most frequently found pesticides were carbaryl followed by biphenyl and then carbofuran.