Residue level and dissipation of carbendazim in/on pomegranate fruits and soil

Carbendazim is widely used on pomegranate for control of a large number of fungal diseases. Its residue levels in/on pomegranate fruits and soil were evaluated under field conditions. The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method in conjunction with liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry was used for analysis of carbendazim. Recovery of carbendazim was within 78.92–96.28 % and relative standard deviation within 3.8–10.9 % (n = 6). Carbendazim residues on pomegranate fruits dissipated at the half lives of 17.3 and 22.8 days from treatments at 500 and 1000 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha−1, respectively. Its residues in pomegranate aril were highest on the tenth day and reduced thereafter. The residue level of carbendazim on pomegranate whole fruits from standard dose treatment was less than the EU maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.1 mg kg−1 at harvest. The carbendazim residues were <LOQ in the aril and field soil at harvest. The pre-harvest intervals (PHIs) of carbendazim on pomegranate were 65.4 and 103.4 days. The results of this study can be used to determine the judicious use of carbendazim for plant protection of pomegranate crop.