The total quantity of pesticides used in agriculture drops each year in Belgium, as new active-substances are efficient at lower doses. Yet, in terms of surface areas impacted, the use of pesticide shows a continuous increase. In the Province of Luxembourg (PoL), as permanent grasslands are converted to crops, the reduction of pesticide use is a subject of matter for the provincial political authority.
Together with Yannick Agnan, the aim of the first pillar of this research is to quantify pesticide residue concentrations in agricultural soils of the PoL and to analyze the influence of soil characteristics and agricultural practices on these residue concentrations. To do so, we will (i) collect information on pesticide use in the PoL, (ii) collect soil and soil water samples (by macro-rhizons, i.e. micro suction cups) under fodder maize and spelt crops (and possibly Christmas tree plantations), and analyze their pesticide residue concentrations by LC and GC coupled with tandem MS, and (iii) study the links between residue concentrations and both the agricultural practices (conventional, integrated pest management, organic) and soil characteristics.
With Philippe Baret, the second pillar of the research will focus on the study of the agricultural production systems in the PoL, and on the lock-ins, constrains and drivers of transitions towards reduced agricultural pesticide use.