Effect of pesticides on blue-green algae and nitrogen-fixation.

The effects of the pesticides, amitrol, a derivative of amitrol (viz. 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole), diquat, paraquat, linuron, MCPA, malathion, and monuron, were studied on the nitrogen-fixing algae, Anabaena cylindrica, Aulosira sp., Calothrix elenkenii. Chlorogloeae frischii, Cylindrospermum muscicola, Nostoc sp. from Collema tenax, Nostoc muscorum Tolypothrix tenuis, and Westiellopsis sp. In general, two types of response were discernible; an initial period of depression succeeded by an increased activity and an initial period of depression followed by a distinct decrease on prolonged incubation. The results indicate that some pesticidal compounds can severely limit the nitrogen-fixing capacities of blue-green algae, thereby affecting the overall nitrogen economy of soils in general.