Persistence of beta-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid residues in cashew

The QuEChERS analytical method in combination with GC and LC-MS/MS was validated to quantify the insecticide residues in immature kernel, mature kernel, cashew apple and in the field soil. The method performance was satisfactory with the LOQ, recovery and RSD values. Residue persistence of betacyfluthrin and imidacloprid on cashew was carried out after foliar spray of the combination formulation, betacyfluthrin 90 g l^-1 + imidacloprid 210 g l^-1 OD (Solomon) at recommended (2.5 ml 10 l^-1) and double the recommended (5 ml 10 l^-1) doses. The residues of betacyfluthrin and imidacloprid were at below LOQ of 0.05 mg kg^-1 in all the samples at recommended and double the recommended dose. Soil sample collected at the time of harvest did not show betacyfluthrin and imidacloprid residues at their detection limit of 0.05 mg kg^-1. The analytical method standardized for the extraction of betacyfluthrin and imidacloprid residues in cashew matrices offers advantages such as simplicity and also, less time consuming.