**5. Discussing on the field performance of the prototypes**

Improved camouflage prototypes, whose ingredients were evaluated in Section 3.1.2.2, were tested for germination (section 3.2.3), regarding the seeds removal by birds in agricultural field (described in section 2, Almeida et al. 2010b) and then using this same experiment, the performance of these prototypes will be discussed, regarding the response of the

Camouflage of Seeds, a Control Method of the Bird Mortality in Grain Crops 387

Currently, camouflaged seeds in the industrial process have more shine and do not have as much surface roughness compared to those of 'hand-made' camouflage. Thus, the effectiveness of the industry seed depends more on the similarity of their colors in relation to the soil. However, probably due to issues associated with large commercial scale production and financial costs, it is common for industrial seed showing clear tone differences from the ground in certain areas, which can compromise the effectiveness of

If camouflage seeds fail to effectiveness desired in not attracting birds and are sold at higher prices than seeds stained with Rhodamine B, the tendency is that these seeds are sold only in regions where extremely dense granivorous birds populations threaten to undermine the

Thus, an appropriate color to the soil and the camouflaged seeds commercialization would be restricted to the occurrence of bird pests outbreaks, as it's noticed in the western of São Paulo state, whose Eared doves population (*Zenaida auriculata*) have been causing huge

Many bird species that usually die poisoned by seeds treated with Rhodamine B and carbofuran damage the plantations (Almeida & Almeida, in press). In regions where there were outbreaks of Eared doves, sometimes farmers deliberately poisoned them offering wheat treated with Rhodamine B and carbofuran (Almeida & Almeida, in press). So, indeed, many farmers do not care about the accidental plague bird deaths in their crops, and they are probably unaware of the secondary poisoning risks that take predators and scavengers. As the amount of remaining forest in certain agricultural landscapes is so scarce, it may be plausible that the impact of secondary poisoning is jeopardizing the survival of scarce predators populations that depend on forests, with risks of local extinctions of wildlife populations such as mammals: Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, and birds:

In order to minimize the risks outlined above, this text strongly emphasizes that, when it comes to planting seeds, the Brazilian government should ban the use of dyes such as Rhodamine B, which are attractive to birds and should at least, make obligatory the use of

If according to the Brazilian Federal Decree 4.074 (January 4, 2002) agrochemical defensives must be added to the seeds in association with dyes, to reduce risk of human poisoning, the camouflaging should be employed, substituting Rhodamine B, since the use of carbofuran and Rhodamine B is confliting with Brazilian Law no 7.802 (July 11, 1989), which prohibits the registration of pesticides and components that may cause environmental damage. The Brazilian government should invest more to reduce conflicts between agricultural production and wildlife. Research is needed on methods to mitigate the impacts from various pesticides, as well as their use. Impacts assessments of secondary wildlife poisoning should be performed. There is lack of control on the agrochemicals use, as well as in divulgation of the poisonings in the wildlife. There is lack in the efforts in basic education in

The method of camouflaging seeds does not solve the problem of various damage types caused by highly toxic pesticides in the Brazilian agricultural landscape, it is suitable for a particular case, transcript in this text, it equals to a conservationist flag at an iceberg tip, whose enormous base represents huge poisoning problems, which are not visible by most

concern the conservation and in more sustainable ways of producing food.

Brazilians, themselves consumers and potential primary victims.

losses in agriculture (Bucher & Ranvaud, 2006; Ranvaud & Bucher, 2006;).

Accipitridae, Falconidae, Strigidae and Cathartidae.

dyes in similar shades with to the soil in each region.

camouflage.

crops, as soon as they are sowed.

camouflaged covers to weather during five days of exposure, usually when the seeds germinate until the third day after sowing.

The lowest numbers of removals were found for seeds which camouflage was based on powder dye, water, liquid dye, and acrylic glue (Table 5, treatments 3, 4, 5). From the third day on, a significant removal of seeds from treatment 7 (camouflaged with soil, glue and water) happened, as a result of rupture of the coating layer, which exposed the yellow color to the birds. This result, like the seeds removal from treatment 6 (dye powder, soil, glue and water), suggests that soil use as an camouflage ingredient would be inadequate, probably due to less coverage durability to weather with each passing day. In fact, at the end of the trial, the coatings containing soil were broken, leaving the seeds in evidence.

In despite of non significative at 5%, the highest removal of seeds camouflaged with industrial liquid dye in the treatment 5, shows the importance of superficial grooving in the coverage, attributed to the powder dye in the least removed camouflaged seeds in Trials 1 and 2 (Almeida et al., 2010b). These results suggest that the efficiency of the camouflaging is not only characterized by the brown dye, or because of the similarity of shades between the soil and the seeds, but also by a group of factors attributed to the seed coverage and the background, like opacity and superficial grooving in the seed, and the presence of irregularities and organic matters on the soil surface. In this case, opacity and superficial grooving were provided by the powder dye in the 'home-made' camouflaging (treatments 3 and 4), which, at least to the human view, notably were less conspicuous in the agricultural soil.

In addition to lower rates of seed removal as well as bird mortality, germination rates obtained with the powder dye camouflage (Tables 4 and 5) suggest that in terms of nutrition to the seedlings, the use of these covers can interest the farmer. This part will be appropriate for farmers who wish to camouflage their seeds on their own, without depending on agrochemical companies. Results from tests with materials and methods that have allowed the improvement on the camouflaging methods, including experiments with dye and texture, effects of camouflaged coatings on seed germination and procedures taken during seed treatment with camouflages, dyes and pesticides can be helpful in this issue.

In some trials using powder dye camouflaging without adhesives, as acrylic glue, insectivorous birds were unexpected victims. A cloud of powder released by the seed drill next to the ground was observed during sowing, and it may have poisoned arthropods, which were then consumed by insectivorous birds (Almeida et al., 2010a; Almeida & Almeida, in press). However, in the process of improving camouflage, the use of acrylic glue prevented the detachment of the dye powder from the seeds. Therefore, adhesives should be required ingredients when there is an association of pesticide to powder camouflage.

The experimentation revealed that the better ingredients to create camouflage covers for seed were: i) powder dye, acrylic glue and water; ii) powder dye and water; iii) powder dye, soil and water; iv) powder dye, liquid dye and water. They show that 'home-made' camouflages with low financial and operational costs present good results in the field, sometimes better than industrial ones.

#### **6. Conclusions: and so, what matter at now and to the future?**

As research results, in 2003 were granted licenses by the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA) for the commercial use of the camouflaged carbofuran syrup without Rhodamine B.

camouflaged covers to weather during five days of exposure, usually when the seeds

The lowest numbers of removals were found for seeds which camouflage was based on powder dye, water, liquid dye, and acrylic glue (Table 5, treatments 3, 4, 5). From the third day on, a significant removal of seeds from treatment 7 (camouflaged with soil, glue and water) happened, as a result of rupture of the coating layer, which exposed the yellow color to the birds. This result, like the seeds removal from treatment 6 (dye powder, soil, glue and water), suggests that soil use as an camouflage ingredient would be inadequate, probably due to less coverage durability to weather with each passing day. In fact, at the end of the

In despite of non significative at 5%, the highest removal of seeds camouflaged with industrial liquid dye in the treatment 5, shows the importance of superficial grooving in the coverage, attributed to the powder dye in the least removed camouflaged seeds in Trials 1 and 2 (Almeida et al., 2010b). These results suggest that the efficiency of the camouflaging is not only characterized by the brown dye, or because of the similarity of shades between the soil and the seeds, but also by a group of factors attributed to the seed coverage and the background, like opacity and superficial grooving in the seed, and the presence of irregularities and organic matters on the soil surface. In this case, opacity and superficial grooving were provided by the powder dye in the 'home-made' camouflaging (treatments 3 and 4), which, at least to the

In addition to lower rates of seed removal as well as bird mortality, germination rates obtained with the powder dye camouflage (Tables 4 and 5) suggest that in terms of nutrition to the seedlings, the use of these covers can interest the farmer. This part will be appropriate for farmers who wish to camouflage their seeds on their own, without depending on agrochemical companies. Results from tests with materials and methods that have allowed the improvement on the camouflaging methods, including experiments with dye and texture, effects of camouflaged coatings on seed germination and procedures taken during

In some trials using powder dye camouflaging without adhesives, as acrylic glue, insectivorous birds were unexpected victims. A cloud of powder released by the seed drill next to the ground was observed during sowing, and it may have poisoned arthropods, which were then consumed by insectivorous birds (Almeida et al., 2010a; Almeida & Almeida, in press). However, in the process of improving camouflage, the use of acrylic glue prevented the detachment of the dye powder from the seeds. Therefore, adhesives should be

The experimentation revealed that the better ingredients to create camouflage covers for seed were: i) powder dye, acrylic glue and water; ii) powder dye and water; iii) powder dye, soil and water; iv) powder dye, liquid dye and water. They show that 'home-made' camouflages with low financial and operational costs present good results in the field,

As research results, in 2003 were granted licenses by the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA) for the commercial use

seed treatment with camouflages, dyes and pesticides can be helpful in this issue.

required ingredients when there is an association of pesticide to powder camouflage.

**6. Conclusions: and so, what matter at now and to the future?** 

of the camouflaged carbofuran syrup without Rhodamine B.

trial, the coatings containing soil were broken, leaving the seeds in evidence.

human view, notably were less conspicuous in the agricultural soil.

germinate until the third day after sowing.

sometimes better than industrial ones.

Currently, camouflaged seeds in the industrial process have more shine and do not have as much surface roughness compared to those of 'hand-made' camouflage. Thus, the effectiveness of the industry seed depends more on the similarity of their colors in relation to the soil. However, probably due to issues associated with large commercial scale production and financial costs, it is common for industrial seed showing clear tone differences from the ground in certain areas, which can compromise the effectiveness of camouflage.

If camouflage seeds fail to effectiveness desired in not attracting birds and are sold at higher prices than seeds stained with Rhodamine B, the tendency is that these seeds are sold only in regions where extremely dense granivorous birds populations threaten to undermine the crops, as soon as they are sowed.

Thus, an appropriate color to the soil and the camouflaged seeds commercialization would be restricted to the occurrence of bird pests outbreaks, as it's noticed in the western of São Paulo state, whose Eared doves population (*Zenaida auriculata*) have been causing huge losses in agriculture (Bucher & Ranvaud, 2006; Ranvaud & Bucher, 2006;).

Many bird species that usually die poisoned by seeds treated with Rhodamine B and carbofuran damage the plantations (Almeida & Almeida, in press). In regions where there were outbreaks of Eared doves, sometimes farmers deliberately poisoned them offering wheat treated with Rhodamine B and carbofuran (Almeida & Almeida, in press). So, indeed, many farmers do not care about the accidental plague bird deaths in their crops, and they are probably unaware of the secondary poisoning risks that take predators and scavengers. As the amount of remaining forest in certain agricultural landscapes is so scarce, it may be plausible that the impact of secondary poisoning is jeopardizing the survival of scarce predators populations that depend on forests, with risks of local extinctions of wildlife populations such as mammals: Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, and birds: Accipitridae, Falconidae, Strigidae and Cathartidae.

In order to minimize the risks outlined above, this text strongly emphasizes that, when it comes to planting seeds, the Brazilian government should ban the use of dyes such as Rhodamine B, which are attractive to birds and should at least, make obligatory the use of dyes in similar shades with to the soil in each region.

If according to the Brazilian Federal Decree 4.074 (January 4, 2002) agrochemical defensives must be added to the seeds in association with dyes, to reduce risk of human poisoning, the camouflaging should be employed, substituting Rhodamine B, since the use of carbofuran and Rhodamine B is confliting with Brazilian Law no 7.802 (July 11, 1989), which prohibits the registration of pesticides and components that may cause environmental damage.

The Brazilian government should invest more to reduce conflicts between agricultural production and wildlife. Research is needed on methods to mitigate the impacts from various pesticides, as well as their use. Impacts assessments of secondary wildlife poisoning should be performed. There is lack of control on the agrochemicals use, as well as in divulgation of the poisonings in the wildlife. There is lack in the efforts in basic education in concern the conservation and in more sustainable ways of producing food.

The method of camouflaging seeds does not solve the problem of various damage types caused by highly toxic pesticides in the Brazilian agricultural landscape, it is suitable for a particular case, transcript in this text, it equals to a conservationist flag at an iceberg tip, whose enormous base represents huge poisoning problems, which are not visible by most Brazilians, themselves consumers and potential primary victims.

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#### **7. Acknowledgements**

We also thanks to Florindo Orsi and Antonio C. Zen for technical information; to Antonio Natal Gonçalves for information about colours and paints; to Paulo Y. Kageyama for the germination chambers; to Fersol Indústria e Comércio and to FMC Agricultural Products by the financing research and logistic support.

Alexandre thanks to the Arlinda Coelho and Edisiene de S. Correia, for allowing your dedication to this chapter, during the work time in the SENAI. He also thanks the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB) for the post-doctoral fellowship (2319/2009), when part of the text was wrote.

#### **8. References**


As the carbofuran, several other pesticide formulations and their application forms have been banned in most developed countries like the U.S. and Canada, however in less developed countries, such pesticides are still produced, used, imported and exported (Richards, in press). The governments of the 'in development countries' should be concerned to monitor the evolution of this knowledge, adopting similar restrictions and

We also thanks to Florindo Orsi and Antonio C. Zen for technical information; to Antonio Natal Gonçalves for information about colours and paints; to Paulo Y. Kageyama for the germination chambers; to Fersol Indústria e Comércio and to FMC Agricultural Products by

Alexandre thanks to the Arlinda Coelho and Edisiene de S. Correia, for allowing your dedication to this chapter, during the work time in the SENAI. He also thanks the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB) for the post-doctoral fellowship

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**7. Acknowledgements** 

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Document D93-02).


**Part 3** 

**Pesticides Mobility, Transport and Fate** 

