Summary
total of 3.2 tonnes of pesticide active ingredients were applied to the DARD Forest Service estate which represents 74% of the Northern Ireland forestry sector. It was estimated that 1.4 tonnes of pesticide active ingredients were applied to 1,088 spray hectares of standing forest while the remaining 1.8 tonnes was applied to an unspecified treated area in the forest nursery. Regionally, pesticide usage on standing forest was related to areas of replanting rather than total afforestation, with County Fermanagh accounting for 57% of the total pesticide-treated area and Counties Londonderry and Tyrone accounting for a further 30%. The two most commonly used herbicide active ingredients were the residual triazine, atrazine, and the non-residual phosphonic acid, glyphosate. Permethrin was the only insecticide used while the gassing compound sodium cyanide was used only in County Tyrone to control rabbits.

The methyl isothiocyanate soil sterilant dazomet accounted for 92% of pesticide application in the forest nursery. Sulphur was the only recorded fungicide active ingredient while glyphosate, propyzamide and paraquat were the most commonly used herbicides. The organophosphate insecticide malathion accounted for 97% of insecticide use in the forest nursery.

A full list of published reports is available together with abstracts from other relevant published work.

For further information on this work please contact:

Pesticide Usage Survey Group
Agri-food and Biosciences Institute
Newforge Lane
Belfast BT9 5PX

Email: pesticide.science@afbini.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)28 90 255689
Fax: +44 (0)28 90 255035