Influence of insecticides flubendiamide and spinosad on biological activities in tropical black and red clay soils

A laboratory experiment has been conducted to investigate the ecological toxicity of flubendiamide and spinosad at their recommended field rates and higher rates (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 kg ha(−1)) on cellulase, invertase and amylase in black and red clay soils after 10, 20, 30 and 40-day exposure under controlled conditions in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) soils of Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Flubendiamide and spinosad were stimulatory to the activities of cellulase, invertase and amylase at lower concentrations at 10-day interval. The striking stimulation in soil enzyme activities noticed at 2.5 kg ha(−1), persists for 20 days in both soils. Overall, the higher concentrations (5.0–10.0 kg ha(−1)) of flubendiamide, and spinosad were toxic or innocuous to cellulase, invertase and amylase activities, respectively. The results of the present study thus, clearly, indicate that application of the insecticides in cultivation of groundnut, at field application rates improved the activities of cellulase, invertase and amylase in soils.