Sulfur Application as Pesticide in Pistachio Orchard: Health and Safety

The common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), is one of the most important pests found in pistachio orchards in Iran, that annually causes great economic damages on pistachio yield. The application of sulfur as a pesticide was one of the strategies used in orchards in the recent years but with negative and positive effects as have been reported. The purpose of this review is to investigate sulfur as a pesticide.

All pesticides used in the United States must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on scientific studies demonstrating their applications without posing risks on people or the environment. Elemental sulfur as a natural component was registered by EPA for application as the insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide on several hundred of feed crops, ornamental plants, turfs, and residential sites.

The available studies indicate that the application of sulfur within the authorized limits has low toxicity in people and non-target species.

All pesticides containing sulfur as individual active ingredient are acceptable for application in an organically managed orchard. Pesticides containing sulfur can be applied using acceptable techniques without causing unreasonable adverse effects on people or the environment.