Representation of phytopharmaceuticals in controlled integrated crop production | Zastopanost fitofarmacevtskih sredstev v kontrolirani integrirani pridelavi

Demands after healthy and quality food without any residues of plant protection products have led to the introduction of integrated production in agriculture. Such production has become a significant element of sustainable development. Integrated crop production means a balanced use of agro-technical measures whereby taking into account economical, ecological and toxicological factors accordingly. With the same economic effect, natural measures have advantage over phytopharmaceutical and biotechnological measures whereby integrated plant protection and, within this frame, the biotic plant protection are taken into account. In accordance with the provisions of the Regulations for integrated production, which stipulate the technological requirements and restrictions of integrated crop production, the harvester must also consider the Technological directives for integrated production in which, inter alia, each year a list of permitted plant protection products (PPP) is set anew. With the production of agricultural products or plants the use of PPP is still a necessary measure in order to produce in an economically justified manner. However, due to the use of PPP in integrated production as well, we face their residues. This contribution shows an assessment of the situation regarding the use of PPP from 2006 to 2008, and it also contains a 5-percent collection of samples of agricultural products or parts of plants in order to establish the presence of potential residues of PPP. The sampling of agricultural products was carried out during growing season before harvesting or during harvesting. After processing the results of analyses on PPP residues, it was established that in most cases active substances are found which are permitted in integrated production, and the values of these active substances have not exceeded the legally prescribed maximum residue levels. However, regardless of the wide selection of PPP for individual crops, there appear PPP which are either not registered or permitted for an individual crop with respect to the type of integrated production. In any case, the type and number of active substances on agricultural products depends on the PPP used, the number of PPP applications during growing period, weather conditions, the concentration used, and the period from the last application of PPP to harvesting and occurrence of disease and pests. What is important in the implementation of integrated production is definitely the full consideration of regulations regarding the use of PPP that are permitted in integrated production. In the implementation of the procedure to certify integrated production, it was established through monitoring of active substances that in most cases where a prohibited PPP was used it was due to lack of suitable PPP on the market with which the harvester could have effectively protected the plants from pests or diseases, thereby allowing an increase in production and, accordingly, self-supply with certain agricultural products. Anyhow, when registering and using PPP we need to strive towards reducing their use or rather towards enabling the harvesters to use the PPP which effectively protect the plants whereas at the same time their use shall not make the environment worse in the sense of polluting ground water, the ground, the water resources on the surface, and so on.