Advances in Environmental Biology

Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(22) November 2014, Pages: 325-330
AENSI Journals
Advances in Environmental Biology
ISSN-1995-0756
EISSN-1998-1066
Journal home page: http://www.aensiweb.com/AEB/
The use of the TFI and IRTH to evaluate the effects of agricultural practices on the
environment in the region Merja Zerga (Morocco)
1,2Dr.E.
EL AZZOUZI, 2H.EL BOUZAIDI, 1M.BELGHARZA, 1Y.Elidrissi, 2O.ASALI, 1Dr. M.EL AZZOUZI,
Dr.M.fekhaoui
1
Laboratoire physical chemistry of materials and nanomaterials, Mohammed V University, Faculty of Science, Ibn Battuta Avenue, PO Box
1014 Rabat.
2
Unit of pollution and Eco Toxicology, University Mohammed V, Scientific Institute, Ibn Battuta Avenue BP 1014 RP, Rabat – Morocco
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Received 25 September 2014
Received in revised form
26 October 2014
Accepted 25 November 2014
Available online 29 December 2014
ABSTRACT
We report more concrete and ambitious measurements to reduce pollution by
pesticides. The objective is to list the most dangerous compounds for the environment
in order to remove them, and optimize the use of other products. For this purpose, two
indicators have been the subject of this study: the Treatment Frequency Index (TFI) and
the Human health Toxicity Risk Indicator (IRTH). We did the study on two types of
fruits (strawberry and raspberry) which are cultivated in the Lalla Momouna area
(Morocco).
Keywords:
Mot clés : pesticides, environment,
TFI, IRTH.
© 2014 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved.
To Cite This Article: Dr.E. EL AZZOUZI, H.EL BOUZAIDI, M.BELGHARZA, Y.Elidrissi, O.ASALI, Dr. M.EL AZZOUZI,
Dr.M.fekhaoui., The use of the TFI and IRTH to evaluate the effects of agricultural practices on the environment in the region Merja Zerga
(Morocco). Adv. Environ. Biol., 8(22), 325-330, 2014
INTRODUCTION
Used especially in areas with high agricultural productivity, pesticides in Morocco have become an
indispensable need to maximize the production levels and meet the increasing demand in food products.
The perimeters of Gharb and Loukkos are among the areas with high agricultural activity. Phytosanitary
products have made these two zones agricultural areas by excellence by mean of the quality and quantity of their
crops. The pesticides amounts used annually in the perimeter of Gharb were estimated at around 1700 tons [1].
Its great part is used in areas equipped with the large ORMVAG (Regional office of agricultural development of
gharb) hydraulics in the Rmel sector (ORMVAL action area, Lalla Mimouna) and in the coastal zone, which
alone requires more than 570 tons of pesticides per year over an area of 35000 ha, with an average of 16.3 kg /
ha [2]. Until now, the various surveys have estimated that an amount of about 2.85 tons of pesticides is likely to
join the coastal aquifer. Furthermore, the annual flow of leachable hazardous active substances is about 1.5 tons.
Considering that water resources in this area are amounted to 900 million m3, the concentration would be about
1.67 micrograms per liter per year [2].
In 1953, the Nador Canal was dug to drain wetlands in the agricultural region of Gharb. Thus, large
artificial tributary opened into the southern part of Merja Zerga with an annual input of 150 millions of m3/year.
These inputs added to those coming from Oued Drader and R'Mel’s groundwater remain a source of nutrients,
pollutants, and solid deposits that have seriously affected the physico-chemical composition of waters of Merja
Zerga [3].
The excessive exploitation of the potential of this zone by the local population disturbs its normal balance
and threatens its sustainability. It is therefore important to take some safeguard and development measures of
the ecosystem of the site. This study was conducted to participate to this objective. It emphasizes on the danger
of excessive use of pesticides on the watershed of this land and tries to reduce this use and its impact on human
health and environment.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
2.1 Treatment Frequency Index (TFI):
2.1.1 Definition :
Corresponding Author: Dr.E. EL Azzouzi, Laboratoire physical chemistry of materials and nanomaterials, Mohammed V
University, Faculty of Science, Ibn Battuta Avenue, PO Box 1014 Rabat.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(22) November 2014, Pages: 325-330
The treatment frequency is determined by the Treatment Frequency Index (TFI), which is the number of
approved doses of pesticides applied on a parcel during a cropping season [4]. The approved dose is defined as
the effective dose of product to be applied on a crop and for a given target organism.
As a consequence, the TFI reflects the intensity of phytosanitary products used, or "phytosanitary pressure"
on the plot and on the environment; as well as the dependence of farmers with respect to these products [5]. A
referenced maximum TFI level has been set for each crop and for different geographical areas.
2.1.2 Method of calculating the TFI:
The TFI is calculated for each plot of the survey "cultural practice" as follows:
- For each treatment performed on the plot, the standard amount is calculated by dividing the dose
actually applied per hectare (DA) by the recommended rate per hectare (DH) for the considered product. If for a
given pair "culture x phytosanitary product," there are several approved doses corresponding to different bioaggressors, we retain the minimum approved dose [6].
- The TFI of the plot is equal to the sum of the normalized quantities defined above for all treatments (T)
made on the plots:
IFT parcelle=Σ (DAT/DHT)
It should be noted here that the TFI considers only pesticides applied in the field, seed treatment or
treatment of harvested products are not taken into account [6].
For each treated plot, one can distinguish two types of indicators during the treatment (herbicides and / or
out herbicides) by calculating the TFI treatment as follows:
TFI (Treatment) = (Applied Dose / Apporved Dose) ∗ Proportion of the treated plot
 If the applied product during this treatment is an herbicide, then the TFI herbicide for this treatment is
equal to the TFI treatment and thus the TFI non herbicide is zero.
 If the applied product during this treatment is not an herbicide, then the TFI non herbicide is equal to
the TFI treatment and the TFI herbicide treatment is zero.
At the end of each crop year, the two types of TFI will be obtained at the plot level, summing the TFI
treatment for all treatments carried out during the campaign [6]. More specifically, we obtain:
 TFI herbicide of the plot, by summing the TFI herbicide treatments.
 IFT non herbicides of the plot, by summing the FTI non herbicides treatments.
To calculate the TFI at the farm level, simply add the TFI of the plots by weighting the surface plots:
TFI(exploitation)= Σ(TFI plot*Treated Surface)/ Σ surface of the plots
We can then get a TFI by region or at national level, by culture or for all crops, by averaging the TFI of the
corresponding plots, weighted by the area of these plots [6].
2.2 Human Health Toxicity Risk Indicator (IRTH):
2.2.2 Definition:
The human health toxicity risk indicator (IRTH) was inspired by the pesticides risk indicator of Quebec for
Health (IRPeQ Health), developed in the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (value between 1.75 and
23 040). It allows the applicator and workers to replace products of high-risk for health by more safety products
[6]. The French group researchers, working under the Tram project, developed a notation indicator characterized
by its application flexibility. It is used to estimate the risk of toxicity of pesticides to users’ health. This toxicity
can be acute or chronic.
In addition, the IRTH takes into account some features of commercial preparations rather than only the
characteristics of the active ingredients they contain. Thus, variables such as the concentration of active
ingredients, formulation type, application rate of commercial preparations, and the influence of application
techniques, are considered in determining the risk reflected by the indicator [6].
2.2.2 Method of calculating the IRTH:
After the various parameters and factors to calculate the IRTH is determined using the following formula:
IRTH product = IRTma ∗ FPf ∗ FPa ∗ FCP [7]
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Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(22) November 2014, Pages: 325-330
In case where the phytosanitary product contains several active ingredients, the IRTH product equals the
sum of IRTH of all the active ingredients present there, the formula is then:
IRTH product =Σ (IRTma∗FPf∗FPa∗FCP) [7]
However, it is important to note that the sum of IRTH of active materials of a commercial product implies
adding risks, which is not necessarily the case. The fact of considering all risks for all active ingredients of the
phytosanitary product can not underestimate a specific effect. It is therefore a conservative approach to estimate
potential risks [6].
The sum of IRTH of different pesticides used for the treatment of a given area provides a total “IRTH
treatment”.
IRTH Treatment = Σ (IRTH product ∗ Surface treated) [7]
The sum of IRTH of treatments performed on different cultures provides a risk indicator of the entire farm.
IRTH farm = Σ IRTH treatment [7]
Results et discutions:
We used two indicators (IFT) and (IRTH) on two fruits (strawberry and raspberry) that are grown in the
area of Lalla Mimouna. This aims to list the most hazardous products to the environment for their removal.
N.B. Technical itineraries (TI) specific for all crops are on the Olympus software "Item culture"
3.1 Strawberry plant:
The strawberry crop occupies an area of 68 ha, or 20% of the total area surveyed, and practiced at three
farms, two of which are certified Europgap and located in the area of Lalla Mimouna.
These speculations provide very satisfactory yields compared to the average yield of the region, which is
about 45 T/ha. The entire production of the certified farms is exported to the European market, including the UK
market, after conditioning (January-May) or freezing (June-August), mainly in Laouamra and Dlalha units.
Cropping systems adopted are mostly semi-intensive, characterized by crops in open fields with plastic
mulch and an irrigation drip system coupled with fertigation.
On plant health, control of pests and diseases is mainly based on the use of nine pesticides, including five
fungicides, three insecticides, and a single herbicide.
Analyzing the technical itinerary adopted for the crop management of strawberry plant, the TI1, whose
production is sold on the local market, achieved the lowest performance (45 T/ha) but by using a broad range of
pesticides,. The two others, which TI were 50 T/ha each, opted for good agricultural practices with low toxicity
for the farmers health as shown in Figure 1:
Fig. 1: TFI, IRTH and Yields of the different technical itineraries of strawberry plant
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Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(22) November 2014, Pages: 325-330
The toxicity units, 98 and 77 (Dhs/unit toxicity) calculated respectively for TI2 and TI3, evaluated by the
technical itineraries (certified EuropGAP) of strawberry plant are highly significant compared to the TI1, which
is based on the strawberry cultivation for the local market. This change results from the good agricultural and
phytosanitary practices imposed by European standards (Figure 2).
Fig. 2: Assessment of the relationship between margin and toxicity: Strawberries
3.2 Raspberry:
Cultivated on 10 hectares or 3% of the total area surveyed, raspberry plant has recently been introduced in
farms producing strawberry. His practice has regenerated trade berries previously based on the strawberry plant
strongly competed by offering of several countries in an increasingly restricted market.
The treatment of this culture is ensured by four types of pesticides including three fungicides (75%) and one
insecticide (25%).
Two of the surveyed farms are practicing raspberries farming and one of them is classified according to the
technical itinerary TI1 which opted for the national market production. It recorded an annual productivity of
about 9 T/ha. On the other hand, the second farm is more efficient and achieves an average yield of 8 T/ha
following a TI2 totally intended to the European market, especially during the winter season.
In terms of a phytosanitary analysis, the results are compelling and demonstrate positive correlation
between phytosanitary pressure, yield, and the risk of toxicity on human health. Thus, the higher the yield, the
higher are the toxicity of the products used to human health and to the environment.
Therefore, the technical itinerary (IT2) is considered to be more reassuring in terms of risk to human health
and to phytosanitary pressure. Its operator appears in full knowledge of the crop and phytosanitary management
practices through the thirty year experience got in the strawberry plant, before opting for the production of this
fruit rarely produced in the area (Figure 3).
Fig. 3: TFIHH, IRTH and Yields of the different technical itinerary of the raspberry plant
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In addition, despite its poor performance compared to TI1, TI2 highlights perfectly the toxicity units
introduced to produce raspberries (2827 Dhs / unit toxicity), thanks to profit got from the good prices offered
during the winter season (for example, the price of raspberries on the UK market are around 100 Dhs/kg during
winter) and to the use of less toxic pesticides required by the european regulation (Figure 4).
Fig. 4: Evaluation de la relation entre la marge et la toxicité : Framboisier
Conclusion:
Analysis of the different technical itineraries practiced and described at the various site investigations
allowed to conclude the performance does not always correlate with the phytosanitary pressure (TFI).
Furthermore, reducing the use pesticides does not decrease their risk (IRTH) on farmers’ health.
The absence of TFI and IRTH as references at the national and regional levels complicates the
interpretation and judgment of results across culture and farming. In fact, judgments that we can make are
mainly based on the comparison between cultures that have an apparent diversification in associated technical
itineraries.
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