A STUDY OF SOIL POLLUTANT CONTAMINATIONS FROM PADDY FIELDS IN THAWI WATTHANA SUBDISTRICT, SAI NOI DISTRICT, NONTHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This purpose of research was to investigate the soil pollutant contaminations where pesticides were used in paddy fields of Thawi Watthana Subdistrict, Sai Noi District in Nonthaburi Province. This study applied a quantitative research model. Soil samples were collected at the study area by simple random sampling to cover the area amounting to 10 plots. Soil pollution in this investigative study was divided into 2 groups: heavy metals including selenium, manganese, copper, chromium, zinc, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, and the group of pesticides, including insecticides and herbicides. The data was analyzed to differentiate with the statistics and soil quality standard with SPSS for t-test. The result revealed that there were heavy metal contaminants such as selenium, manganese, copper, chromium, zinc and nickel. Selenium were found in all plots which exceeded the soil quality standards and zinc in plot 9 which also exceeded standard. The heavy metal contents found in the study sites were statistically significantly different from the comparable standard values and found contamination of pesticides. Moreover, contamination of Methoprene, an insecticide which prohibits the transformation process of insects from larvae to adults, was found in plots 8 and 9. Its effect was to kill the eggs of insects. The research result pointed out that soil pollutants contaminated in the paddy fields were resulted from agrochemical use in the study area. Farmers and related agencies should consider preventing and reducing the use of agricultural chemicals to reduce the potential impact on people and the environment from exposure to pollutants. And further studies are needed on the absorption of pollutants into plants and yields.