Abstract

REYES¹, Giovanni; CHAPARRO-GIRALDO, Alejandro  and  AVILA, Kelly. Environmental effects of agrochemicals and agricultural machinery in transgenic and conventional crops cotton. Rev. colomb. biotecnol [online]. 2010, vol.12, n.2, pp.151-162. ISSN 0123-3475.

Food production is based on the use of various agricultural technologies, which can lead to conflicts between environment and agriculture. It is important to study the environmental impact of new technologies applied to agriculture, the most important of which is transgenesis. This work was carried out in the cotton belt of the town of Espinal, Tolima Department for the cotton crop in the first half of 2009, through methodologies Brookes & Barfoot (2006) and Kovach et al (1992). We studied the environmental impact of pesticide application and use of agricultural machinery for cultivation of transgenic and conventional cotton. Information was collected through surveys of 20 farms producing cotton. The analysis of the survey was conducted descriptively, by determining differences in quantitative and qualitative for the sites that use conventional technology, and transgenic (Bt gene and double RR / RR), and then make a correlation with the Environmental Index Quotient (EIQ). No differences were found between the fields EIQ the two technologies, although transgenic technology has environmental advantages in the control of some lepidopteran pests. In connection with the use of agricultural machinery, was found to conventional technology generates less release of CO₂, greenhouse gas. The Brookes and Barfoot methodology could be adapted in comparative studies of agricultural technologies in tropical countries.

Keywords : Cotton; transgenic crops; environmental effects; agricultural machinery; CO₂ emissions; EIQ.

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