Dissipation of Fipronil and Profenofos Residues in Chillies (Capsicum annum L.)

Dissipation of fipronil (@ 0.01% ai) and profenofos (@ 0.1% ai) on chillies were studied by spraying at 15 days interval, starting from 45 days after transplanting. A total of four sprays were given. Samples of green chillies were collected at 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 days after the fourth spray and red chilli fruit samples collected at harvest and dried for 15 days in sun. The initial deposits of fipronil and profenofos after last spray were 0.20 and 0.36 mg kg⁻¹, which dissipated to 0.01 and 0.02 mg kg⁻¹ by 30 days amounting to the loss of 94.0 and 92.4%, respectively. Half-life values for fipronil and profenofos were 16.8 and 41.0 days, respectively. Waiting periods (T_tol)) of 5 and 19 days have been suggested. The residues in dried red chillies (collected at harvest) were below detectable level (BDL).