The Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) is a model developed to estimate the environmental impact from three main components of agricultural production systems: the farmer, consumer and environment. It has been used as a measure of impact of pesticides to determine the sustainability of different crops. The EIQ is a mathematical and conceptual summary equation of environmental and health impact. The EIQ combines the pesticide hazard posed to farm workers, consumer, and the local environment into a composite single-value hazard indicator. Using EIQ values for each pesticide, it is possible to determine EIQ Field taking into account the dose applied, the formulation or percent active ingredient and the frequency of application. The EIQ Field becomes an indicator of Environmental Impact that the farmers can use to minimize environmental impacts and, if possible, change some pesticides products for those with a lower EIQ. EIQ for each pesticide and EIQ field was determined in papaw crops located in the Cauca river valley in Colombia. Farmers in La Union (Cauca river valley) used 28 different agricultural products, which have 24 different active ingredients, including insecticides (11), herbicides (3) and fungicides (10). The results showed that all insecticides applied have a low-level EIQ field (below 50 kg/ha); three fungicides (carbendazim, chlorothalonil and mancozeb) were in EIQ field high level (above 100 kg/ha) and one of the herbicides (glyphosate) has EIQ field value in the high level category as well. These results suggest that farmers are using pesticides in quantities which are causing environmental impact. In order to reduce the risk, farmers can replace pesticides with products of lower EIQ or decrease the frequency of applications in the field.

Use of environmental impact quotient (EIQ) to estimate impacts of pesticide usage on papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) crops in the Cauca river valley zone in Colombia

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Use of environmental impact quotient (EIQ) to estimate impacts of pesticide usage on papaya (Carica papaya L.) crops in the Cauca river valley zone in Colombia