Evaluation of the content of glyphosate residues in irrigated waters and

sediments in the Marza and MayodoriMarket-Gardening in the city of

Ngaoundere (Cameroon).

Assokeng Thomas1, Sieliechi 1Joseph. Marie., Adjia Henriette.Zangue1., MBINZI Jean.Marcel2.,

Noumi3*[Link]

1
Department of Applied Chemistry, National Advanced School of Agro-Industrial Science,
University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere Cameroon
2
Department of food Sciences and nutrition, National Advanced School of Agro-Industrial
Science, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere Cameroon
3
Department of Chemistry,Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere
Cameroon.
*Corresponding: gnoumi@[Link]
Authors’ contributions
This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Authors Sieliechi Joseph Marie
and Noumi Guy Bertrand designed the study,performed the statistical analysis, wrote the
protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript.
Authors Assokeng Thomas and Mbinzi Jean Marcel managed the analyses of the study. Author
Adjia Henriette Zangue managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the
final manuscript

ABSTRACT:
The objective of this study was to assess the level of contamination of irrigation water and
sediments from the Marza Spring and Mayodori River in the Marza and Mayodori vegetable areas
by glyphosate residues. Water and sediment samples were collected upstream and downstream of
each stream. After assaying the samples with ninhydrin, the analyzes were carried out with visible
UV spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 570 nm. The results obtained from the analyzes showed
that in the dry season the average content of glyphosate residues ranged from 0.042 to 0.077mg / L
while in the rainy season it ranged from 0.1002 to 0.197mg / L in the mayodori river. At the Marza
source, the mean glyphosate residue content ranged from 0.015 to 0.058 mg / L in the dry season
while in the rainy season it ranged from 0.056 to 0.204 mg / L. Concerning the distribution in
samples sediments and water, the residues average in the glyphosate level in sediments is more
than water.

Keywords: glyphosate, sediments,market-gardening and surface water

INTRODUCTION:

The inadequacy between population growth and the high demand for fresh fruits and
vegetables has led cities in developing countries to intensify market gardening activities [1]. However,
this activity faces many obstacles: parasitic attacks, high cost of labour and land problems. Faced with
these obstacles, market gardeners regularly resort to the use of plant protection products and in
particular herbicides to reduce labour costs [2]. Among these herbicides is class, the glyphosate which
is systemic herbicide discover in 1974 by Monsanto society in today's herbicides more than use in
word [3]. However, contamination of watercourses by the residues, This pesticide constitutes a danger
is aquatic and farmers regularly consume these water and irrigate plants [4, 5, 6, 7, 8].

In vegetable gardens in the city of Ngaoundere Cameroon, market gardeners are increasingly
resorting to the misuse of pesticides. Among these pesticides, glyphosate-based formulations are the
most used to drastically reduce the cost of labour. However, the ever-increasing use of formula based
on this glyphosate of about ten years raises a lot of concern about their fate in watercourses located
near the fields. These rivers located near the fields is not only for irrigation of plants, but is also a
source of drinking water for most of the market gardeners [9]. For this purpose, we have set the
objective of evaluating the degree of contamination of the courses of the two large basins of vegetable
production of the city of Ngaoundere (Marza and Mayodori) by the residues of glyphosate. In the
Cameroon cities, particularly in Ngaoundere, there has been at least one intensification of market
gardening in the lowlands and marshy valleys [1].This activity is favorable in Ngaoundere by the
presence of numerous rivers that do not dry up during the dry season and by the rapid increase of its
population. Faced with the pressure of the local demand, in search of unrestrained earnings, But also
the high demand from other Cameroon cities like Garoua, Maroua and cities of neighboring countries
(Djamena in Chad and Kartoum in Sudan) for fresh fruits and vegetables, market gardeners make
pesticides. Among these pesticides, glyphosate formulations are the most used because it drastically
reduces the cost of labour. However, the ever increasing use of glyphosate-based formula raises a lot
of concern about their fate in streams near fields. These rivers located near the fields serve not only
for the irrigation of plants, but are also a source of drinking water for the majority of most market
gardeners [9]. Following these questions, the evaluation of the level of contamination of irrigation
courses by glyphosate residues is a question that must be answered in order to safeguard human
health and the environment. For this reason, the fixed objective is to evaluate the degree of
contamination of the courses of the two large basins of vegetable production of the city of Ngaoundere
(Marza and Mayodori) by the residues of the glyphosate.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area and characterization of the sampling sites
Two large basins of vegetable production were the subject of this study: Marza located in the South
and Mayodori located north of the city of Ngaoundere chief town of the Adamaoua region. On each
watercourse two sites were chosen, an upstream site and a downstream site. The sites located
upstream were taken as witness, the market gardening activities are almost nonexistent while the
downstream sites are located in areas of intense market gardening activity. At Marza, the upstream
sites were originally chosen from the source while the downstream site at the level of the rabbits that
were fed by the source. In Mayodori, the upstream site was chosen about 30 meters from the zone of
intense market gardening activity in an area where market gardening activity is almost non-existing
while the downstream site in the zone of intense market gardening activity. During sampling, a
decameter was used at downstream sites to measure the distance between streams and cultivated
plots. The geographic coordinates of the sampling sites were carried out using a GPS brand 60
(Table1).
Table1: Name and geographical coordinates of the study areas
Study Zones Sites Latitude(north) Longitude(west) Altitude(m)

Marza
uphill 7.26832 13.60984 1090
dowstream 7.26398 13.60846 1082
Mayodori
uphill 7.47957 13.53957 1115
dowstream 7.47797 13.53953 1115
Sampling and treatment of water samples

Water and sediment sampling was conducted over two seasons (dry season and rain) during January
and July 2014 in the four sites that is two sites per stream. During sampling, a decameter was used to
measure the distance between pesticide application sites and irrigation water. The sediments were
collected at a depth of [Link] and 20-30 cm and mixed. After the sample have been mixed into a
load, we got a composite and representative sample of 200 g from each site. All sediments contained
in aluminum dishes and transported to the laboratory where they were dried in darkness. glass jars
was transported to the laboratory floor where they were stored in a 4 degree refrigerator. After
sampling and storage, the sediment samples were crushed and sieved at 200 μm. Glyphosate
residues were extracted from the sediments with 0.1 M potassium dihydrogenphosphate (KH 2PO4) in
an ultrasonic bath for 30 minutes according to the protocol (Figure 1) [10, 11].

Figure 1: Flow diagram of extraction procedure glyphosate in sediments.

2. Determination of glyphosate residues in water samples and sediment extracts

2.2. Reagents

The principle of the glyphosate assay in our samples is based on the fact that it can react with
ninhydrin to give a purplish purple Ruhemann complex (blue-violet) absorbing at a wavelength of 570
nm to the UV-Visible spectrophotometer [12,13]. The equation result of the reaction of formation of this
complex is presented by [Link] volumetric flasks of 25ml, 5ml of sample of water or extract of the
sediments were introduced, after addition 2ml of saturated ninhydrin solution and 5ml of acetate buffer
and then complete with distilled water. Subsequently, the whole was brought door to the bath tide at
100degre for 5 min. After reading the absorbances at the UV-visible spectrophotometer at 570 nm, the
content of the glyphosate residues was deduced from the equation calibration line (Y = 0.049x +
0.001, R² = 0.986) made from the standard glyphosate 99 %.
 Figure 2: Equation reaction of the complexRuhemann [14].

Statistical analysis:

The comparaison of the average of glyphosate in different samples were done with the help of statistic
test ANOVA TWO and separated by DUNCAN at 5% from the program stat graphics.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 3: Conjugate effect of season and location of sampling site on mean glyphosate content.
Indication : standard deviation:±0,01mg/L, n=6, p<0.05
 35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Under From From From From
From 15
to 3 3 to 5 6 to 8 9 to 11 12 to 14
and over

Figure 4: Distance between fields and waterways

Figure 3 shows the combined effect of the season and the location of the sampling site on the mean
glyphosate content. This figure shows that there is a significant difference between the levels of
glyphosate residues in up stream and down stream sites. The average glyphosate tailings content of
the downstream sites is higher than that of the upstream sites. The high content of the glyphosate
residues in the downstream sites can be justified firstly by the fact that the upstream sites have been
chosen in the zones. In addition, the very high content in downstream sites could also be due to the
fact that the majority of treatment areas (32%) are located regularly. located between 3 m and 5 m of
rivers (Figure4).

Regarding the influence of the seasons, Figure3 shows that there is a significant difference between
the average glyphosate residue content obtained in our dry and rainy season samples from each
sampling site. In the dry season, glyphosate residues ranged from 0.042 to 0.077mg/ L while in the
rainy season it ranged from 0.1002 to 0.197mg / L in the MayodoriRiver. At the Marza spring, the
average glyphosate residue content varies from 0.015 to 0.058 mg / L in the dry season while in the
rainy season it varies from 0.056 to 0.204 mg / L. glyphosate at site level can be explained by the fact
that in the rainy season, runoff carries significant amounts of glyphosate residues from abandoned
empty package to surface waters. These results are similar to the results of studies conducted in the
abgdo river in benin15. In the rainy season the average residue content of glyphosate is higher
compared to the dry season.

Figure 5: Glyphosate concentration in water and sediment samples of the surface streams,
Indication: standard deviation:±0,01mg/L; n=6
Figure 5 presents the distribution of glyphosate in waters and sediments. This figure shows that the
average glyphosate sediment content in sediments 0.0396 to 0.110mg / L and in water ranges from
0.0568 to 0.168mg / L. There is a significant difference between the content of glyphosate residues in
water and sediments. The average sediment content is higher than in the water. These results are in
agreement with the studies on the quality of the water and the nutrients [16]. These results are similar
to those for the distribution of glyphosate in waters, sediments and soils in Argentina [17]. However,
these results are similar to studies conducted inthe water level of the Agbadoriver in Benin [15].

CONCLUSION

The objective of this work was to evaluate the contamination of irrigated water and sediments in Marza
and Mayodori vegetable areas with glyphosate residues. The misuse of glyphosate formulations in
phytosanitary practices in the market gardening areas of Ngaoundéré contributes significantly to the
contamination of irrigated water and sediments. The contamination of these water is a danger for
people who consume this water regularly. The use of this water for irrigation could be the cause of the
sudden death of seedlings during their development.

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