Effect of Processing of Turmeric on Chlorthalonil, Chlorpyriphos and Endosulfan

To understand the fate of chlorthalonil, chlorpyriphos and endosulfan during processing of turmeric rhizomes to powder, a field experiment was conducted at Medicinal and Aromatic Farm, Anand Agricultural University, Anand Gujarat (India), during kharif 2006. The soil was drenched with pesticide solution at thrice the recommended dose near root zone seven days prior to harvest. At harvest, the fresh turmeric rhizomes revealed presence of traces of chlorthalonil, 0.047 µg g⁻¹ of chlorpyriphos and 0.006 µg g⁻¹ of endosulfan. The corresponding levels in processed turmeric powder were 0.007, 0.030 and 0.028 µg g⁻¹, respectively. Based on the residue levels obtained in the present study, processing factor of 2.3, 0.6 and 4.7 was worked out for chlorthalonil, chlorpyriphos and endosulfan, respectively.