A field study was conducted to determine persistence and bioaccumulation of oxyfluorfen residues in garlic crop. Oxyfluorfen (23.5% EC) was sprayed at 125, 250 and 500 g ha−1 on the crop. Mature garlic bulbs were collected at harvest of the crop and soil samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120 d after herbicide application and after crop harvest. These collected soil samples and garlic bulbs were analyzed for oxyfluorfen residues by a validated Gas Liquid Chromatography method with an accepted recovery of 78.9–90.6%. Analysis showed that oxyfluorfen dissipated completely in soil at the time of crop harvest. This indicated that the oxyfluorfen did not leave any residues in soil beyond harvest of the crop at any of the applied dose. Garlic bulbs collected at harvest showed BDL, 0.0015 and 0.003 μg g−1 oxyfluorfen residues at the doses of 125, 250 and 500 g ha−1 respectively. From the study, it may be concluded that pre emergence application of oxyfluorfen in garlic for weed management could be considered safe, as its residues were below the prescribed MRL (0.05 mg kg−1).
Oxyfluorfen, garlic, persistence
