Integrated approach for the assessment of impacts from pesticide use in transgenic crop productive systems in the Pampa´s plains of Argentina. Part 1: Environment description and characterization.

CAMILIÓN C.; NATALE G.; MANASSERO M.; CARRIQUIRIBORDE P.; MARTIN M.L.; SOBRERO C.; BONETTO C.; RONCO A. E.

Vilnius, Lituania

Simposio; 11Th International Symposium on Toxicity Assessment; 2003

Institute of Botany, University of Vilnius

The understanding of ruling processes of the environment incorporates approaches based on the study of physical, chemical and bioanalytical system parameters, leading to a more sustainable resource management. The study case analysed here is oriented to assess the impact of new techniques for the production of soybean, corn and sorghum using herbicide resistant transgenic crops. The area is located in the center of a widespread geographical unit known as the humid Pampa, composed by Middde Upper Quaternary loess sediments. Here are developed the best producing soils (typic Argiudolls) of Argentina, with important rainfall (between 970 and 1100 mm year average) and a well developed drainage system that ultimately reachs the right margin of the Parana River, flowing to the Río de la Plata Estuary. The topography is slightly ondulated, with first order courses aligned N - S while second order rivers flow from the SW - NE like the Pergamino-Salto-Arrecifes River. The studied creek system is located upflow of one of this first order streams, which is recharged directly by rainwater and indirectly by upward flow of groundwater. The stream starts within the same cropfields and runs through them in the analyzed area. Intensive crop management is carried out, extending closely to the water streams leaving narrow bands of wild plants. Riparian vegetation are essential as refuge areas to ensure recolonization of impacted stretches. Although glifosate is almost non toxic for the local fauna, successive aplications to attain a chemical fallow might have a strong deleterious effect because of habitat destruction for local communities. Overall, biological diversity in the studied streams is low. Whether this is a result from intensive farming remains to be assessed.