Recently, the Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency Ibama issued new regulations to adjust the use of pesticides containing the insecticide active ingredient thiamethoxam. The new regulations do not completely ban the use of such pesticides, but prohibit non-precise large-scale spraying by aircraft or tractors on various crops, because the spray is prone to drift, affecting bees and other pollinating insects in the ecosystem.
For specific crops such as sugarcane, Ibama recommends the use of thiamethoxam pesticides using precision application methods such as drip irrigation to avoid drift risks. Agronomic experts said that drip irrigation can safely and efficiently apply pesticides to sugarcane crops to control major pests such as cicadas (Mahanarva fimbriolata), termites (Heterotermes tenuis), sugarcane borers (Diatraea saccharalis), and sugarcane weevils (Sphenophorus levis), with less impact on crops.
The new regulations clearly state that pesticides containing thiamethoxam may no longer be used for factory chemical treatment of sugarcane propagation materials. However, after the sugarcane is harvested, pesticides can still be applied to the soil through the drip irrigation system. To avoid affecting pollinating insects, it is recommended that the first drip irrigation be 35-50 days apart from the next one.
In addition, the new regulations will allow the use of pesticides containing thiamethoxam on crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans and sugarcane, directly applied to the soil or leaves, and for seed treatment. Specific conditions of use such as dosage and expiration date will be further clarified.
Experts pointed out that the use of precision application methods such as drip irrigation can not only better control pests and diseases, but also ensure operational safety and reduce manpower input. It is a sustainable and efficient new technology. Compared with spray operations, drip irrigation avoids the potential harm of liquid drift to the environment and personnel, and is more environmentally friendly and economical and practical overall.
Source: AgroPages
