Finding Better Pesticides for Rice Fields

May 29, 2007 -- UC Davis is helping the California rice industry adopt more environmentally friendly pesticides for weed and insect control.

Before any pesticide can be used legally in California, there must be documented information about its fate after application, such as how soon it evaporates and how it is broken down by sunlight and microbes.

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The goal is to confirm that the chemical will stop the target weed or insect efficiently, and then dissipate harmlessly before the water from rice fields is released to the Sacramento River. Pesticide manufacturers typically provide such information to state regulators. However, independent assessments are helpful because they confirm the accuracy of the manufacturer's data.

For eight years, UC Davis Professor Ronald Tjeerdema's research group in the Department of Environmental Toxicology has been funded by the California Rice Research Board to make those independent assessments. They are also useful to rice producers in other states and countries.

Tjeerdema recently published an assessment of the herbicide penoxsulam (trade name Granite), which can be used to control weed grasses. While it was found to not readily evaporate, it is broken down within weeks by both sunlight and microbes, making it an environmentally friendly choice for California rice fields. Other pesticides that have been assessed recently include the herbicides thiobencarb (Bolero) and clomazone (Cerano).

Tjeerdema's research is in keeping with the mission of the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which has worked closely with the California agricultural industry for many years to enhance the safe production of food and fiber.

Source: UC Davis