Influence of organic fertilizer application on pendimethalin volatilization and persistence in soil

Laboratory studies were undertaken to evaluate the influence of fertilizers on pendimethalin volatilization and persistence in soil. Various organic fertilizers such as liquid humic substances and urea were used at doses of 100 L/ha or 170 kg of N/ha, respectively. Herbicide residues were determined in air, soil solution, and soil samples by GC-ECD; the recovery of pendimethalin from spiked fertilized or control samples was found to be 81-103%. Liquid humic fertilizers increased pendimethalin dissipation during the first part of the assay, although 4 months after application, herbicide levels were similar to those observed in unfertilized soil. Fertilization of soil with urea decreased, in general, pendimethalin volatilization but increased herbicide levels in soil solution and persistence in soil, with a pendimethalin half-life approximately 70% higher than that found in unfertilized soil.     

Atrazine and metolachlor in surface runoff under typical rainfall conditions in southern Louisiana

Atrazine and metolachlor are commonly detected in surface water bodies in southern Louisiana. These herbicides are frequently applied in combination to corn, and atrazine to sugarcane, in this region. A study was conducted on the runoff of atrazine and metolachlor from 0.21 ha plots planted to corn on Commerce silt loam, a Mississippi River alluvial soil. The study, carried out over a three-year period characterized by rainfall close to the 30-year average, provided data on persistence in the surface soil (top 2.5 cm layer) and in the runoff active zone of the soil, as measured by decrease in runoff concentrations with time after application. Regression equations were developed that allow an estimate of the runoff extraction coefficients for each herbicide. Atrazine showed soil half-lives in the range 10.5-17.3 days, and metolachlor exhibited half-lives from 15.8-28.0 days. Concentrations in successive runoff events declined much faster than those in the surface soil layer: Atrazine runoff concentrations decreased over successive runoff events with a half-life from 0.6 to 5.7 days, and metolachlor in runoff was characterized by half-lives of 0.6-6.4 days. That is, half-lives of the two herbicides in the runoff-active zone were one-tenth to one-half as long as the respective half-lives in the surface soil layer. Within years, the half-lives of these herbicides in the runoff active zone varied from two-thirds longer for metolachlor in 1996 to one-fifth longer for atrazine in 1995. The equations relating runoff concentrations of atrazine and metolachlor to soil concentrations contain extraction coefficients of 0.009. Losses in runoff for atrazine were 5.2-10.8% of applied, and for metolachlor they were 3.7-8.0%; atrazine losses in runoff were 20-40% higher than those for metolachlor. These relatively high percent of application losses indicate the importance of practices that reduce runoff of these chemicals from alluvial soils of southern Louisiana.     

Mobility and dissipation of ethofumesate and halofenozide in turfgrass and bare soil.

The effect of turfgrass cover on the leaching and dissipation of ethofumesate and halofenozide was studied. Sampling cylinders (20 cm diam. x 30 cm long) were placed vertically in plots of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.), or bare soil. ethofumesate [(+/-)-2-ethoxy-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethylbenzofuran-5-yl methansulfonate] was applied at 840 g ai ha(-)(1) on September 21, 1997. Halofenozide (N-4-chlorobenzoyl-N'-benzoyl-N'-tert-butylhydrazine) was applied at 1680 g ai ha(-)(1) on August 30, 1998. Replicate sampling cylinders were removed 2 h after treatment and 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 days after treatment. Sampling cylinders were sectioned by depths and soil extracts were assayed by HPLC with a pesticide detection limit of 0.01 mg kg(-)(1). Turfgrass was divided into verdure and thatch and analyzed separately. ethofumesate leaching in turfgrass was reduced by at least 95% compared to leaching in bare soil. The half-life of ethofumesate in bare soil was 51 days compared to 3 days in turfgrass. Halofenozide showed similar leaching with or without turfgrass. Fifty percent dissipation of halofenozide did not occur within 64 days, regardless of organic matter cover.     

Evaluation of Mobility and Dissipation of Mefenoxam and Pendimethalin by Application of CSTR Model and Field Experiments Using Bare and Tobacco Tilled Soil Columns

The soil mobility and dissipation of two pesticides with different physicochemical properties, namely mefenoxam, a systemic fungicide, and pendimethalin a selective herbicide, were determined in bare and tobacco tilled soil columns, which were installed in field conditions for over 125 days. Soil samples were collected at specific time intervals for a 125-day period and the rate of pesticide dissipation and leaching through the soil column was studied. The dissipation half-lives of mefenoxam from the top soil layer in tilled and bare soil columns were estimated at 10.3 and 13.1 days, respectively, while the corresponding half-lives for pendimethalin were 26.7 and 27.5 days, respectively. The dissipation of mefenoxam and pendimethalin from the top soil in tobacco cultivation was faster in comparison with bare soil; however, 120 days after their application, both pesticide residues were detected in the soil. Maximum concentrations of mefenoxam and pendimethalin were observed on the 15^th and 33^rd day, respectively, in the soil layer of 5–10 cm depth and on the 30^th day and 63^rd day, respectively, in the soil layer of 10–15 cm depth. Higher concentrations were observed in bare soil columns. The leaching of both pesticides was simulated with the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) in series model. The simulated peak concentration and peak time for both pesticides fitted reasonably well to the experimental values.     

Foliar and soil deposition of pesticide sprays in peanuts and their washoff and runoff under simulated worst-case rainfall conditions

There are few studies that relate the timing and amounts of pesticide washoff from plant foliage during rainfall to runoff losses at the edge of the field. We hypothesized that foliar deposits, if washed onto the soil slowly during rainfall, may then undergo less leaching during the period of infiltration that occurs prior to soil saturation and runoff, thus exhibiting larger runoff losses than pesticides on/in the soil at the beginning of rain. We measured the runoff of ethalfluralin, metolachlor, chlorothalonil, and rhodamine WT dye using simulated rainfall on 450 m2 mesoplots planted in peanut. Ethalfluralin was applied preplant incorporated, and metolachlor was applied preemergence on bare soil. Chlorothalonil and rhodamine WT were applied to the peanut canopy at maturity. Rainfall was simulated 24 h after each chemical application (in May and July, 1998, and May and August, 1999) using raindrop sprinklers, applying 5.5 +/- 0.5 cm over a 2 h period to create reasonable worst-case conditions; between 3 and 9 mm of runoff was generated. Volume-weighted average concentrations of chemicals in runoff were 7, 104, 163, and 179 ug L(-1) for ethalfluralin, metolachlor, chlorothalonil, and rhodamine WT, respectively. The total amounts of chemicals lost in the runoff events were 0.04 +/- 0.01, 0.2 +/- 0.1, 0.6 +/- 0.5, and 0.2 +/- 0.1, as percents of amounts applied, respectively. Rhodamine WT formed a vivid red solution on wetting and provided visual clues to the dynamics of chemical washoff/runoff. The washoff from rain-exposed peanut foliage appeared to be complete within a few minutes of the beginning of rainfall, and disappearance of dye from rain-exposed soil surface occurred within the first 10 min of rainfall. However, dye was present in runoff water at near-constant concentrations throughout the 2 h runoff event, indicating that near-constant amounts of chemical remained in the soil extraction zone. These results confirm earlier studies showing that soil incorporation at application significantly reduces runoff losses and that a majority of foliar residues can be washable if rainfall occurs within a few days after application. Runoff losses of foliar-applied pesticides were small relative to washoff amounts but were sensitive to runoff timing relative to washoff.     

Use of undisturbed cores of surface soil for investigating leaching losses of sulphur and phosphorus

Undisturbed soil cores 10 cm long were collected using a precisely constructed 8.5-cm diameter soil sampler. To study the loss of sulphur and phosphorus from these cores due to leaching, a technique was developed for encasing the walls of the cores in a microcrystalline wax.Distilled water was applied to the surface of the cores at the rate of 2 ml/min and the loss of native plus applied sulphur and phosphorus was determined for successive 20 ml aliquots that percolated through the soil. When water equivalent to 90 mm of rainfall was added to the soil cores, losses of 2.0 kg S/ha and 0.30 kg P/ha occurred due to leaching.     

Runoff and leaching of alachlor under conventional and soil-specific management

Abstract. The influence of conventional and soil-specific management on leaching and runoff losses of soil-applied alachlor (2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl- N -(methoxymethyl) acetanilide) was studied across a soil catena (landscape) with varied slope and drainage characteristics. The catena consisted of: a well-drained Ves (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Udic Haplustoll) soil on the backslope (1–4%), a Ves soil on the sideslope (6–12%), and a poorly drained Webster (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Haplaquoll) soil on the toeslope (0–3%). In general, the concentration of alachlor in runoff water was greater in the Ves soil than in the Webster. In 1992 alachlor concentrations in runoff (water, sediment + water) were less for soil-specific rates (2.20 or 2.80 kg/ha) than for a uniform rate (3.36 kg/ha) in both Ves soils. There was no significant difference in alachlor concentration related to application rates (soil-specific rate 3.66 kg/ha) in the runoff from the Webster soil. Averaged across soils and events, the concentrations of alachlor in runoff (water, sediments + water) were less for soil-specific rates than for the uniform rate. Alachlor was not detected in soil samples obtained from depths greater than 15 cm in any soil or treatment after the first sampling. At the first sampling in 1992 (7 days after application) alachlor was detected down to 45 and 90 cm in the Ves and Webster soils, respectively. Detectable amounts (≥0.1 μg/1) of alachlor were observed in soil water samples extracted from all three soils during some sampling dates. No particular trends were observed with soils or application rates.     

Simultaneous measurement of runoff and leaching losses of bromide and phosphate using tilted beds and simulated rainfall

Abstract

Small beds packed with soil were used to study intertill soil erosion and chemical transport processes. We compared the partitioning of bromide and phosphate between runoff and leaching, and related sediments rates (g/min) to bromide and phosphate concentrations in the runoff. Stainless steel tilted beds (1.0 x 0.5 x 0.1 m) with 2% slope were equipped with leaching and surface runoff collection funnels. A Tifton loamy sand was hand‐packed in the beds to a bulk density of 1.7 Mg/m³. Chemicals were sprayed uniformly to the soil surface and followed by a 2 h, 10 cm simulated rainfall. Runoff and leaching started after 27 min of rainfall and remained constant. Change in sediment rate, and bromide and phosphate concentrations from the first to the second runoff sample was related to splash transport. Breakthrough curves for leaching of bromide and phosphate were different and related to their affinity for the soil particle surfaces. This experimental technique may be useful for estimation of pesticide and fertilizer losses from interrill areas.     

Run-off transport of herbicides during natural and simulated rainfall and its reduction by vegetated filter strips

The efficiency of filter strips in protecting watercourses against herbicides in run‐off was evaluated in field experiments in western Germany. Surface run‐off caused by natural rainfall and related transport of metolachlor, terbuthylazine and pendimethalin were measured on plots of 40 m length without filter strips (F0), and after passing over three types of herbicide‐untreated field margin: 12 m conservation headland (CH12), 6 m (GF6) and 12 m grass strips (GF12). Run‐off was also measured after simulated rainfall on 7 m long plots without (F0) and with 3 m grass strips (GF3). All three herbicides were transported both in dissolved and in adsorbed forms; the partitioning depended on their water solubility with metolachlor and terbuthylazine mainly translocated in dissolved form (F0: highest mean concentrations for a natural run‐off event 721 and 220 μg L^?1, respectively). Pendimethalin was predominantly transported in adsorbed form (maximum mean concentration 11.2 μg L^?1). In the sediment, the highest mean herbicide contents in a single natural event (F0) accounted for 2294 μg kg^?1 (metolachlor), 1317 μg kg^?1 (terbuthylazine) and 5648 μg kg^?1 (pendimethalin). The proportions of applied herbicide translocated were 0.3% (metolachlor), 0.2% (terbuthylazine) and 0.06% (pendimethalin; F0, natural rainfall). The extent of herbicide transport decreased with time but within this trend soil sealing, soil moisture and amount and intensity of rainfall increased losses. Compared with the F0 plots, the reduction of herbicide translocation after natural rainfall reached 80–83% (CH12), 80–88% (GF6) and >99% (GF12) over the 3‐year period. The 12 m grass strips allowed only one extreme run‐off event to pass through, thus providing a highly effective watercourse protection against herbicide pollution.     

潮土磷素累积流失风险及环境阈值

潮土是中国分布比较广、施肥强度大的典型耕作土壤，潮土中磷素累积与流失对区域水环境的污染风险不容忽视。该研究在潮土面积最大的河南省采集磷素水平不同的典型潮土作为供试土壤，采用人工模拟降雨及土柱模拟试验方法，通过测定土壤中Olsen-P和溶解态活性磷CaCl2-P含量以及径流或淋滤液中各形态磷浓度，研究了潮土中磷素随地表径流和下渗流失特征，并通过分段线性模型对潮土的磷素环境阈值进行拟合。结果表明：1）不同形态磷在潮土土壤剖面中均有一定程度的累积，土壤Olsen-P和CaCl2-P含量表现为高磷最大，中磷次之，低磷最小，而磷吸持指数值表现为低磷最大，中磷次之，高磷最小。从磷素的剖面分布来看，低磷和中磷水平潮土Olsen-P和CaCl2-P含量随着土壤深度的增加而降低，而高磷水平的潮土Olsen-P和CaCl2-P含量在20～40 cm土层含量最高。2）不同磷水平潮土径流中总磷（TP）、可溶性总磷（TDP）和颗粒磷（PP）浓度和流失量大小表现为高磷最高，中磷和低磷水平土壤次之，潮土径流流失以PP为主。3）低磷和中磷水平潮土淋滤液中的各形态磷浓度和流失量随着土层深度的增加而降低，而在高磷水平的潮土淋滤液中，20～40 cm土层淋滤液中磷浓度和流失量要显著高于其他土层，在整个土壤剖面磷素浓度随着土层深度的增加呈现先上升后下降的趋势，潮土淋滤流失以TDP为主，其中，高磷和低磷水平潮土以可溶性有机磷占主导，而中磷水平潮土以钼酸盐反应磷（MRP）占主导。4）通过分段回归模型将不同含磷水平潮土的水溶性磷与土壤中Olsen-P含量进行拟合，得出潮土土壤磷素环境阈值为24.65 mg/kg，研究还表明径流和渗漏液中TP浓度与土壤CaCl2-P含量呈显著正相关，因此可通过测定CaCl2-P来预测并判断土壤磷素流失风险。     

太湖地区高产高效措施下水稻氮淋溶和径流损失的研究

在太湖地区,采用田间小区试验,研究了高产高效措施对水稻季氮素淋溶和径流损失的影响。结果发现,水稻季总氮(TN)和可溶性有机氮(DON)淋溶随土壤深度的增加而降低,不同深度下氮淋溶形态不同。60 cm处DON浓度要高于硝氮(NO–3-N)和铵氮(NH4+-N),占TN的40.5%~58.9%;80 cm处NO–3-N的浓度要高于DON和NH4+-N,占TN的52.3%~60.7%。相比当地常规处理,高产高效处理的NO–3-N淋溶减少了51.7%~54.7%,仅占施肥的0.5%~0.9%。在氮的径流损失中,NH4+-N占TN的48.1%~56.4%,而NO–3-N占TN的36%~53%。试验中氮素通过径流途径的损失量很低,仅占施肥的0.34%~0.59%。高产高效处理的氮淋溶和径流损失之和分别为10.59 kg/hm2和10.18 kg/hm2,低于常规处理(13.41 kg/hm2)。除此之外,高产高效措施的作物产量(11.14~12.22 t/hm2)和农学利用率(11.8~12.5 kg/kg)均显著高于当地常规处理。水稻收获后,高产高效处理的土壤TN相比常规处理提高了6.8%~8.1%,有机质含量提高了8.6%~9.2%。综上,高产高效措施不仅有利于作物产量和氮素利用率的提高,还削弱了氮在土-水界面的迁移,是作物增产且环境友好型的有效措施。     

Foliar washoff potential and simulated surface runoff losses of trifloxysulfuron in cotton

The surface runoff potential of trifloxysulfuron {N-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)carbamoyl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoy)-pyridin-2-sulfonamide sodium salt} in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems has not been evaluated. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine sorption/desorption coefficients for trifloxysulfuron; (ii) quantify foliar washoff of trifloxysulfuron when applied to cotton at the five-leaf stage; and (iii) determine the surface runoff potential of trifloxysulfuron when applied to cotton at the five-leaf stage and to bare soil. Freundlich sorption and desorption coefficients were 1.15 and 1.22, respectively. Sorption data indicated that trifloxysulfuron was moderately sorbed to soil and that it will be transported primarily in the dissolved phase of surface runoff. Foliar washoff studies revealed that approximately 91% of trifloxysulfuron applied to cotton at the five-leaf stage was available for washoff 72 h after application. Simulated rainfall (7.5 cm h-1) applied 1 day after herbicide application (7.9 g ha-1) resulted in average concentrations of trifloxysulfuron in surface runoff water of 0.8 microg L-1 for bare plots and 1.3 microg L-1 for cotton plots. Cumulative trifloxysulfuron losses in surface runoff from bare plots and cotton plots were 0.13 and 0.21 g ha-1, respectively. These values correspond to fractional losses of 1.7% for bare plots and 2.7% for cotton plots. Greater runoff losses of trifloxysulfuron from cotton plots were attributed to foliar washoff. Trifloxysulfuron runoff losses may be curtailed if the herbicide is applied early postemergence when canopy coverage is minimal, thereby reducing the potential for foliar washoff.     

模拟降雨下初始含水量对砂黄土硝态氮迁移特征的影响

利用室内人工模拟降雨,研究了不同初始含水量砂黄土在降雨条件下入渗-径流、土壤侵蚀,以及NO3--N随径流流失和土壤深层淋溶特征。结果表明,初始含水量对产流时刻影响在相对含水量为49.4%和76.9%之间存在一个转折点,高初始含水量较低含水量产流提前大约15 min;土壤侵蚀量随着土壤初始含水量的增加而增加,相对含水量为97.1%时,侵蚀泥沙量分别是相对含水量22.9%的2.8倍,49.4%的2.3倍,76.9%的1.5倍。初始含水量高的处理径流初始NO3--N浓度高,随后各处理均衰减很快,10 min左右NO3--N含量趋于雨水本底值;土壤初始含水量越低,NO3--N被淋洗的程度越严重,土壤剖面中NO3--N的浓度峰越深。对于黄土高原坡地砂黄土NO3--N迁移特征来看,按照NO3--N迁移数量,随径流和泥沙流失量比向土壤深层迁移的数量小。说明在降雨条件下,NO3--N主要通过土壤深层淋溶损失,且土壤初始含水量越低其损失越严重。针对黄土高原降水量小,分布集中的特点,采取措施增加入渗,蓄积水分,在一定含水量下施肥,以提高氮肥利用率,降低NO3--N的淋溶。     

翻耕与压实对坡地土壤溶质迁移过程的影响

采用田间模拟降雨试验方法,研究地表翻耕与压实处理对坡地产流产沙及溶质迁移特征的影响。结果表明：与压实处理比较,翻耕坡地初始产流时间延长近3倍,降雨向土壤水转化率提高10％以上,产沙量增加67％;翻耕处理明显降低溶解态磷（DP）和泥沙浸提态磷（SEP）的流失量,但磷素流失形态（DP与SEP的比值）并未显著变化,始终以颗粒态形式流失为主;翻耕处理显著改变了溴的流失形态,溶解态溴（Br）与泥沙浸提态溴（SBr）流失量比值减少了72％;翻耕处理提高了溴（或硝态氮）的淋失概率,增大污染地下水体的潜在危险。因此,合理配置坡地免耕或翻耕措施,有机结合其他农艺耕作措施,对减少坡地水土及养分流失具有重要实践意义。     

Environmental distribution of acetochlor, atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and propisochlor under field conditions

The environmental behavior, movement, distribution, persistence, and runoff by rainfall of the pesticides acetochlor, atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and propisochlor were studied under field conditions during a five-month period at normal weather conditions. The pesticide concentrations in soil depths of 0-5 and 5-20 cm, and in sediment and runoff water samples (collected from an artificial reservoir built in the lower part of the experimental plot) were measured every second week and following every runoff event. The contamination of a stream running across the lowest part of the plot was also monitored. The weather conditions were also recorded at the experimental site. The pesticide residues were quantified by a capillary gas chromatograph equipped with a nitrogen phosphorus selective detector (GC-NPD). There was a consistent decrease in pesticide residues in the 0-5 cm soil layer with time after spaying. At 140 days after treatment only atrazine and chlorpyrifos were present; acetochlor and propisochlor were not detected in this soil layer. Atrazine and chlorpyrifos in the soil at a depth of 5-20 cm were detectable during the whole experimental interval, whereas acetochlor and propisochlor concentrations were below the limit of detection. Pesticide losses by the surface runoff process and the contamination of the stream were closely related to the time of rainfall elapsed after treatment and amount of rain at the experimental plots. Losses were primarily dependent on surface rainfall volume and intensity. The maximum detected residues of atrazine and acetochlor in stream water were 1 order of magnitude higher than the maximum residue limit specified by the European Union (EU) for environmental and drinking water (0.1 microg/L for individual compounds and 0.5 microg/L for total pesticides). Chlorpyrifos and propisochlor were not detected in this matrix.     

Einfluß von Düngemaßnahmen auf die Stickstoffauswaschung bei mehrjährigem Silomaisanbau

Influence of fertilization on nitrogen leaching after cultivation of maize for silage over four successive seasons In a field trial, nitrogen leaching from soil was determined between February 1983 and May 1986 by analyzing soil water from 50, 80 and 110 cm below the soil surface every 14 days. On a Stagno-gleyic Luvisol, maize after maize was cultivated over four successive seasons. Nitrogen was applied either minerally in spring according to N_min or as a semiliquid cattle manure. The time of application (autumn and/or spring), application rate and use of nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) were varied. Under very low N-fertilization (underground fertilization only), nitrate nitrogen losses by leaching dropped from 100 kg N/ha in the first year to 33 kg N/ha in the 3^rd. Nitrogen leaching from the various treatment plots depended on the maize growth and rainfall conditions. Because of an intensive and long lasting seepage of gravitational water, nitrogen leaching from the root zone ranged from 113 to 208 kg N/ha during the fall and winter seasons of 1983/84 and 1984/85. Under the more balanced infiltration conditions of the leaching period 1985/86, and after a high yield of maize in 1985, losses due to leaching were reduced to values between 69 to 108 kg N/ha. Under these experimental conditions (deliberately high quantities of semiliquid cattle manure; DCD-application in autumn) no reduction in nitrogen losses could be proved due to the addition of dicyandiamide.     

Soil erosion on Alfisols in Western Nigeria: II. Effects of mulch rates

The effects of four rates of straw mulching on runoff and soil loss were compared with those of no-tillage treatments under natural rainfall conditions using field runoff plots of 25 × 4 m established at 1, 5, 10 and 15% slopes on the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research site near Ibadan, Nigeria. The four rates of straw mulching were 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha. The mean annual runoff was 50, 10, 4 and 2% of the total annual rainfall for mulch rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha, respectively. Runoff from unmulched treatments was not related to slope. Runoff loss from no-till treatments was only 2% of the rain received. The mean soil losses for the rainstorms greater than 25 mm were 143, 16, 2 and 0.4 kg/ha per mm of rain received for mulched rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha, respectively. The soil loss declined exponentially with increasing mulch rate with exponents ranging from approximately ?0.3 to ?0.7. The soil losses from the no-till plots were equal to those from plots that received mulch at the rate of 6 t/ha. Soil erodibility was significantly influenced by time after clearing, with maximum K reached two to three years after forest removal. The nutrient loss in runoff and eroded soil was significant only for unmulched treatments. The maximum annual loss of NO₃-N in runoff was about 15 kg/ha. The maximum annual loss of total N in eroded soil from unmulched plots was about 180 kg/ha, that of P, 5 kg/ha, and that of K, about 14 kg/ha.     

Nitrogen losses from the field: denitrification and leaching in intensive winter cereal production in relation to tillage method of a clay soil

Abstract. Losses of soil and fertilizer nitrogen by leaching and denitritication from a clay soil in southern England have been measured over four years. Nitrate losses in drainage water from direct-drilled land averaged 20–30 kg N ha 'a' with wide seasonal variation. Ploughing and conventional cultivations increased this loss. Denitritication from direct-drilled land averaged 5–10 kg N ha 'a' with wide seasonal variation. Ploughing and drainage both diminished denitritication losses but cultivation had the greater effect. These nitrogen losses occurred mainly in autumn and spring.
Nitrogen losses, in drainage water or by denitritication after spring fertilizer applications, were related to the rainfall in the 28 days following top dressing. Approximately 40 mm rain was needed to cause a loss of 10% of the nitrogen applied but in practice losses were quite variable.     

Leaching of imidazolinones in soils under a clearfield system

Herbicides with high mobility can leach to deeper layers of the soil and to contaminate underground aquifers. The potential of herbicide leaching in soil can be monitored by chromatography or bioassay methods. This study evaluated the leaching of imazethapyr, imazapic and its commercial mixture (imazethapyr + imazapic) in three tropical soils via a bioassay method. The herbicides were applied in a polyvinyl chloride column and an 80 mm rainfall was simulated. The bioindicator species sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) BRS 655 was sown. Imazethapyr, imazapic and the commercial herbicide mixture showed high leaching in the soils. The presence of imazethapyr and the commercial mixture was detected up to 25 cm deep in Haplic Plinthosol and Oxisol. Imazapic showed less leaching to tree soil, being found at depth 10–15 cm. The pH, texture and iron oxide amount levels affected herbicide leaching. The mobility of the herbicides imazethapyr and imazapic in the Haplic Plinthosol and the Oxisol at depth 25 cm indicates a high risk of groundwater contamination.     

降雨及土壤湿度对水土流失的影响

水土流失同降雨及降雨前土壤湿度关系密切。坡耕地产生坡面流失的临界雨强约为4mm/10min,降雨量为12.5mm;从中雨至大暴雨,雨型每增加一级,土壤流失量将翻一番;水土流失量同侵蚀雨量呈极显著的线性关系;地表径流量同降雨前0—30cm的土壤湿度因子成正比,冲刷量则与此成反相关。