Biodegradation of monocrotophos by rumen microbes

To study the degradation of monocrotophos (MCP) under in vitro system, rumen liquor was collected from three adult male goats through stomach tube and mixed with buffer of pH 6.7 in the ratio of 1:4. Under anaerobic conditions, 5 g of conventional concentrate mixture and lucerne hay in 50:50 ratio containing 100 ppm MCP was incubated in 250 ml buffered rumen liquor at 39°C. In the medium the mean concentration of MCP was reduced significantly where as reverse trend was observed in the concentration of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), ammoniacal and Total -N in 48 h of incubation. It was inferred that mixed rumen microbes degraded the MCP linearly to 50 percent level within 12 hr of incubation and it was related to microbial activity which was evidenced by levels of different fermentation products of feed in the medium.