Investigation and Analysis of the Residual Status and Distribution of Long-Lasting-Effect Herbicides in Field Soil: A Case Study of Henan Province, a Major Agricultural Producing Area in China

The results demonstrated that among the total 365 investigated samples, the proportion of samples detecting three target herbicides simultaneously, two herbicides, one herbicide, and none were 0.3%, 6.4%, 65.2%, and 23.2%, respectively. For samples with only one detected herbicide, the detection rates in Jiyuan, Luohe, Puyang, Luoyang, Xuchang, and Hebi were relatively high (ranging from 44% to 100%), whereas those in Sanmenxia, Nanyang, Xinxiang, and Kaifeng were relatively low (ranging from 6% to 20%). Regarding individual herbicides, the detection rates of mesosulfuron-methyl, quinclorac, halosulfuron-methyl, diflufenican, imazethapyr, pyroxasulfone, imazapic, fomesafen, and atrazine were 1.2%, 3.8%, 5.5%, 6.1%, 8.7%, 8.7%, 10.4%, 11.0%, and 33.9%, respectively. Based on these findings, the current reliance on long-acting effect herbicides for weed management in China’s agricultural management practices was systematically analyzed. Within the framework of agricultural sustainability, it is proposed that there is an urgent need to promote the concept of scientific herbicide use among farmers and that pesticide scientists must recognize the extreme importance of continuous innovation and the development of alternative herbicides with new mechanisms of action as a long-term strategic goal.