Camouflaging of seeds treated with pesticides mitigates the mortality of wild birds in wheat and rice crops Camuflagem de sementes tratadas com pesticidas mitiga a mortalidade de aves silvestres em plantações de trigo e arroz
Seeds used to plant wheat, corn and rice crops in Brazil are treated with the insecticide carbofuran associated with the dye rhodamine B, attracting granivorous birds and causing mortality during sowing. The objective of this study was to evaluate if using camouflaged seeds can minimize mortality ca...
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Universidade de São Paulo
2010-04-01
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Series: | Scientia Agricola |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-90162010000200008 |
Summary: | Seeds used to plant wheat, corn and rice crops in Brazil are treated with the insecticide carbofuran associated with the dye rhodamine B, attracting granivorous birds and causing mortality during sowing. The objective of this study was to evaluate if using camouflaged seeds can minimize mortality caused by the ingestion of seeds with carbofuran. Alternatives for reducing mortality, such as using carbofuran without rhodamine B or replacing carbofuran by carbosulfan, were compared. Three experiments were carried out in regions of known bird mortality in the states of Paraná and São Paulo, Brazil, using conventional sowing over plowed soil in the traditional planting system, 15,896 kg of seeds in 111.46 ha. Bird carcasses were collected and dissected to unveil which poisoned seed treatments had caused birds' deaths. The mortality mounted to 296 birds of 11 species. Eared doves were the most numerous casualties (263). There was significant correlation between mortality and number of consumed seeds. The consumption of camouflaged seeds was lower than that of commercial seeds treated with rhodamine B. The mortality caused by seeds with both rhodamine B and carbofuran was higher than mortality caused by seeds camouflaged only with carbofuran. The replacement of carbofuran with carbosulfan also seemingly reduced mortality, but carbosulfan mortality might have been underestimated as a result of the apparent movement of affected birds after exposure. Seeds treated with carbofuran and rhodamine B and without any dye, were attractive. Because legal requirement for seeds treated with pesticides to be differentiated by dying, the substitution of rhodamine B by camouflaging must be encouraged.<br>Plantações de trigo, milho e arroz no Brasil utilizam sementes tratadas com o inseticida carbofuran, associado ao corante rodamina B, que é atrativo às aves granívoras, causando notável mortalidade durante o plantio. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se sementes camufladas minimizam a mortalidade de aves, causada pela ingestão de sementes tratadas com carbofuran. Possíveis alternativas para redução da mortalidade como carbofuran sem a rodamina B e o carbusulfan, foram testadas comparativamente. Realizaram-se três experimentos em regiões de expressiva mortalidade de aves no Paraná e São Paulo. Semeaduras foram convencionais sobre solo arado no sistema de plantio tradicional, utilizando 15.896 kg de sementes em 111,46 ha. Carcaças de aves foram coletadas e dissecadas, revelando quais tratamentos de sementes envenenadas causaram mortes. A mortalidade foi de 296 aves de 11 espécies. Pombas avoantes foram as vitimas mais numerosas com 263 mortes. Houve correlação significativa entre mortalidade e quantidade de sementes consumidas. O consumo de sementes camufladas e com carbofuran foi menor em relação ao de sementes com rodamina B e com carbosulfan. A mortalidade causada por sementes com rodamina B e carbofuran foi maior em relação à causada por sementes camufladas e com carbofuran, que foi igual à causada por sementes com rodamina B e carbosulfan, cujo inventário foi subestimado. Sementes tratadas com carbofuran, com e sem rodamina B, foram atrativas. Como sementes tratadas com agrotóxicos devem por lei receber coloração diferenciada para evitar acidentes com humanos, camuflagem de sementes deve ser encorajada substituindo a rodamina B. |
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ISSN: | 0103-9016 1678-992X |