Impact of Pesticide Exposure on Germination of Selected Legume and Cereal Crops Grown in Northeastern Nigeria.

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.103.32

Abstract:
The increasing adoption of chemical pesticides in sub‑Saharan Africa has raised concerns among farmers about potential phytotoxic effects on staple crops. This study evaluated the impact of four commonly used products; Butaforce (butachlor), Glyweli (glyphosate), Kombat (lambda‑cyhalothrin) and Weed Crusher (paraquat) on seed germination and early seedling growth (plumule and radicle) of cowpea (Phaseolus vulgaris), maize (Zea mays), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), rice (Oryza sativa) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Seeds were exposed to three concentrations (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 ml L⁻¹) of each pesticide, with water‑treated seeds serving as control. Data were subjected to one‑way ANOVA at 5% significance level. Results showed that Kombat caused no significant reduction in germination or seedling growth; at 2.5 ml L⁻¹ it even enhanced plumule and radicle elongation in cowpea, and at 5.0 ml L⁻¹ further stimulated radicle growth relative to control. In contrast, Weed Crusher exerted the strongest inhibitory effect on both germination percentage and plumule/radicle development across all species. Butaforce and Glyweli also suppressed germination at higher concentrations, though to a lesser extent than Weed Crusher. These findings demonstrate that pesticide effects are both compound‑specific and dose‑dependent. Farmers are advised to integrate pesticide application within an integrated pest management framework to optimize crop productivity and environmental sustainability. Farmers can also integrate biocontrol agents into their crop protection strategies to reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides and mitigate phytotoxic risks.

Keywords:
Pesticide, Cereal, Legume, Germination

Article Info:
Received: 22 May 2025; Received in revised form: 19 Jun 2025; Accepted: 25 Jun 2025; Available online: 30 Jun 2025

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