Persistence and dissipation kinetics of deltamethrin on chili in different agro-climatic zones of India.

Multi-location supervised field trials were conducted at four different agro climatic locations in India to evaluate the dissipation pattern of deltamethrin on chili. Deltamethrin 10 EC was applied on chili @17.5 and 35 g a.i. ha(-1), samples of green chili were drawn at different time intervals and that of red chili and soil at harvest time and quantified by gas liquid chromatography equipped with electron capture detector. The identity of residues were confirmed by Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrophotometer in selective ion monitoring mode in mass range 181, 253 m/z. Limit of quantification of the method was found to be 0.01 mg kg(-1). Half-life of deltamethrin at application rate of 17.5 g a.i. ha(-1) varied from 0.36 to 1.99 days and at double the application rate was found to range from 0.38 to 2.06 days. Residues of deltamethrin were found below its determination limit of 0.01 mg kg(-1) in red chili and soil. On the basis of the data generated, Deltamethrin 10 EC has been registered for use on chili in India and its Maximum Residue Limit has been fixed as 0.05 μg/g.