Alike other pesticides, herbicides are chemicals used for controlling weeds and pose toxicity to targeted weed plants as well as potential risk to consumers and environment. Therefore, information on herbicide residues analysis become important for approving a chemical for large scale commercial use with little or no adverse effects on the environment and human health. The analysis of herbicide residues requires sophisticated equipment and specially trained manpower. Precise determination of herbicide residues in various commodities presents a challenge to the chemists in view of the micro-quantities present in soil or plants/other matrix and generally estimated at ppm or ppb level using sensitive methods. This book is written by Dr. Shobha Sondhia, a well known expert in the field of herbicide chemistry and weed science. Dr. Sondhia has acquired excellent skills and knowledge in herbicide residues analysis based on her research work at Directorate of Weed Science, Jabalpur. This book contains five chapters, beginning with general guidelines for herbicide residues analysis, extraction, cleanup, detection methods, determination of herbicide residues and precautions are described in detail. At the end, information on herbicide registered/banned in India, physico-chemical properties of herbicides, toxicology, maximum residue limits (MRL) of herbicides in different commodities, list of major uses of herbicides in crops and membership of CODEX Alimentarius Commission are also provided. Glossary of important terms used in herbicide estimation is also given. Author believes that this practical book will be of immense value to academicians, weed scientists in general and residue chemists in particular.
Dr. Shobha Sondhia is meticulously handling research works in the capacity of Senior Scientist at Directorate of Weed Research. Jabalpur. Currently she is also working as an In-Charge of All India Coordinated Research Project on Weed Management. Dr. Sondhia obtained M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Prestigious Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur and Post Doctoral Research at United States Department of Agriculture, Oxford, Mississippi. Dr. Sondhia is a recipient of many awards, fellowships, recognitions from national and international agencies. Dr. Sondhia has one patent to her credit besides over 60 research papers, 90 presentations on national and international platforms and authored a reference book entitled “Herbicides” which received the ISWS Best Book Award for the year 2010. She is a life/annual member of a dozen of scientific and professional societies. She has recognized as a resource person in the field of herbicide chemistry/residues by many universities and research institutes. She has also worked in the editorial Board of Indian Journal of Weed Science. She has worked referees/reviewer of research journals of high impacts. Dr. Shobha Sondhia had done outstanding work on herbicide residues, degradation, method developments, influence of abiotic/biotic and physiological factors on herbicide efficacy and selectivity, herbicide leaching, identification of herbicide metabolites/degradation products, environmental impact of herbicides on non-targeted organisms, herbicide mitigation measures and isolation and identification of biomolecules. She has guided several M. Sc. and M. Phil, students. She worked as a member of Student Advisory Committee for Ph.D. program with her vast experience and exposure she has organized five national trainings. She is a recipient of “Achiever Award 2012” by Society for Advancement of Human and Nature. She has also been recognized as ‘Fellow of Indian Society of Weed Science. She is also unanimously elected as Treasurer of Indian Society of weed Science (2014-17). Dr. Sondhia has been honoured several times in her academic and professional career with several awards and recognitions such as INSA Young Scientist Travel Grant Fellowship, Travel Grant Fellowship of International Allelopathy Society, USA, National Agricultural Innovative Program (NAIP) fellowship. Recognition in Marquis Biography World WHO’S WHO, Best Scientist Award 2007, Best worker award in the scientific category DWR 2015, Silver Jubilee Foundation day Certificate of Appreciation by DWR, Jabalpur, Key Speaker in many national and international conferences.
