Effect of liming on hexazinone sorption and desorption behavior in various soils

Liming is a practice commonly used to modify soil acidity, neutralize aluminum, and increase calcium and magnesium in the soil. Liming can change herbicide retention processes and consequently weed control and potential environmental contamination. The effects of liming on the sorption and desorption of hexazinone in different soils were evaluated. Samples from seven Brazilian soils were collected and separated into two subsamples, with and without limestone incubation. Hexazinone was quantified using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography. The sorption and desorption coefficients were determined in soils using Freundlich isotherms. Increasing the pH did not alter the sorption kinetics of hexazinone in the same soil class. The shortest sorption time of hexazinone occurred in soils with higher organic matter (OM) and clay content. Liming reduced the sorption and increased the desorption of hexazinone in the soils, which was caused by the increase in pH and reduction of OM content. Although the application of limestone increased desorption, the rate at which this process occurred was less than the sorption rate of hexazinone in most cases. In alkaline soils, the recommended dose of hexazinone for pre-emergence application should be low to avoid leaching and reduce the contamination of groundwater resources.     

The Role of Soil Properties in Pyrene Sorption and Desorption

Soil type will greatly affect the sorption and subsequent desorptionof hydrophobic contaminants. To gain a better understanding of theimpact of soil type on sorptive behavior, the sorption-desorption of pyrene (PYR) with three different soils was studied. The first soil originated from Colombia and is classified as silty sand with3.54% soil organic matter (SOM) and 18% clay materials (<2 microns). The New Mexico soil is a sandy lean clay comprisedof 8.4% SOM and 10% clay. The last soil originated fromOhio and is a silty sand with 1.84% SOM and 9.6% clay. Based on soil mineralogy and sorption-desorption isotherms,the Colombia soil had the greatest binding potential followedby the New Mexico and Ohio soils. The Freundlich model couldfit both the Colombia and New Mexico soils. For the Ohiosoil, a two-stage Freundlich model was required. For allthree soils, PYR desorption was slow and resistant, anddepicted an apparent hysteresis. The extent of sorption-desorption for each soil was attributed to its individual classification.For instance, the SOM present in the New Mexico soil (8.4%) enabled a relatively easy desorption in comparison to the other two soils. For the Ohio and Colombia soils, the interaction with the clay fractions rendered a stronger sorptive bond.     

Dicyandiamide sorption-desorption behavoir on soils and peat humus

The sorption-desorption behavior of dicyandiamide (DCD) is an important chemical process that affects DCD fate and mobility in soils. Therefore, this study quantified DCD sorption-desorption on a phaeozem (Mollisol), a burozem (Alfisol), a soil with organic matter-removed and peat humus using the batch-equilibration procedure, and identified soil properties that influenced DCD sorption. The sorption on peat humus was higher than that on the phaeozem and the burozem, with much lower sorption observed on the soil with organic matter-removed, indicating that soil organic matter was the main carrier of DCD sorption. Due to its amphipathic property the DCD molecule sorption on the phaeozem and the burozem decreased as pH increased from about 2 to 5, but a further increase in pH led to a rise in DCD sorption.The DCD desorption hysteretic effect for peat humus was greater than that for the phaeozem and the burozem using 0.01 mol L^-1 CaCl2 as the background electrolyte, suggesting that the hydrophobic domains of organic matter may play an important role in DCD sorption.     

The effect of soil type on phosphorus sorption capacity and desorption dynamics in Irish grassland soils

Abstract. The phosphorus (P) sorption and desorption dynamics of eleven major agricultural grassland soil types in Ireland were examined using laboratory techniques, so that soils vulnerable to P loss might be identified. Desorption of P from soil using the iron-oxide paper strip test (Pfeo), water extractable P (Pw) and calcium chloride extractable P (Pcacl₂) depended on soil P status in all soils. However, soil types with high organic matter levels (OM), namely peat soils (%OM >30), had lower Pfeo and Pw but higher Pcacl₂ values compared to mineral soils at similar soil test P levels. Phosphorus sorption capacity remaining (PSCr) was measured using a single addition of P to soils and used to calculate total P sorption capacities (PSCt) and degree of P saturation (DPS). Phosphorus sorption capacities correlated negatively with % OM in soils indicating that OM may inhibit P sorption from solution to soil. High organic matter soils exhibited low P sorption capacities and poor P reserves (total P, oxalate extractable P) compared to mineral soils. Low P sorption capacities (PSCt) in peat soils were attributed to OM, which blocked or eliminated sorption sites with organic acids, therefore, P remained in the soil solution phase (Pcacl₂). In this work, peat and high organic matter soils exhibited P sorption and desorption characteristics which suggest that these soils may not be suitable for heavy applications of manure or fertilizer P owing to their low capacities for P sorption and storage.     

Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar: Preparation,Characterization, and Its Effects on Soil Properties and Zinc Sorption-desorption

ABSTRACT

Application of alkaline biochar has been proposed as an alternative to lime for remediation of acidic soils. However, questions remain as to how the reactions and fate of metals in acidic soils can be affected by biochar amendment. To find out how biochar addition might affect sorption-desorption behavior of zinc (Zn) in acidic soils, a soil with an initial pH value of 4.67 was treated with different levels [0 (control), 1%, 3%, and 6%] of biochar produced from pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse at 600°C and incubated for 30 days under 80% of water holding capacity. At the end of the incubation period, important soil chemical properties were measured and batch isotherm experiments were performed to determine soil Zn sorption-desorption parameters. The results showed that the biochar-amended soils had higher pH values (up to 2.5 pH units), electrical conductivity (up to 2.66 times), and cation exchange capacities (up to 42%) relative to the un-amended acidic soil. Biochar addition also led to significant enhancements in soil exchangeable calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium cations. Both sorption and desorption isotherm experiments revealed the significantly higher capacity of the biochar-amended soils to retain Zn than that of the control. Moreover, the biochar-amended soils exhibited a higher affinity for Zn sorption than did the un-amended acidic one. It can be concluded that biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse could serve as a good amendment material to reclaim acidic soils and to reduce Zn mobility and toxicity in acidic metal-contaminated soils.     

四环素在土壤中的吸附与解吸以及镉在其中的影响

采用批平衡实验方法,研究了四环素（TC）在褐土和红壤中的吸附和解吸,以及Cd2＋对四环素在两种土壤上吸附和解吸的影响。结果表明,四环素在褐土和红壤中的吸附可以用Freundlich等温吸附方程拟合,所得lgKf分别为3.039和3.169,这表明四环素在红壤中的吸附能力较强。此外,四环素在两种土壤上的解吸过程都存在滞后现象,所得lgKf,des分别为3.292和3.877,这将可能威胁到土壤环境和人体健康。常见重金属Cd2＋的存在会促进四环素在两种土壤上的吸附,在红壤中表现显著（P〈0.05）;同时红壤中四环素的lgKf,des有所增加,而在褐土中的变化不大。     

Sorption and transport of sulfonamides in soils amended with wheat straw-derived biochar: effects of water pH,coexistence copper ion,and dissolved organic matter

Purpose

Sulfonamides are widely used for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections, hard-degraded contaminants distributed in the environment if they are discharged into the soil and water. Biochar could probably influence the geochemical behavior of ionized antibiotics in the soils.

Materials and methods

To determine the sorption/desorption of three representative sulfonamides (SAs) in soils amended with biochar, we investigated the effects of water pH, Cu²⁺, and dissolved humic acid on the sorption of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfamethazine (SMZ), and sulfadiazine (SD) onto two different soil samples (S1 pH?=?5.13 and S2 pH?=?7.33) amended with wheat straw-derived biochar (size 0.5～0.6 mm).

Results and discussion

Batch experiments showed that the sorption/desorption isotherms of SAs on soil with/without biochar followed the Freundlich model. The biochar had a strong adsorption potential for SMX, SMZ, and SD both in S1 and S2 at low water pH. Except for SMX, the presence of Cu²⁺ inhibited the sorption of SMZ and SD through competing hydrophobic adsorption region in soils. HA suppressed the sorption of three sulfonamides in soil S2 by electrostatic repulsion under alkaline condition. The soil leaching column experiments showed the SA transport in soils, and S1 and S2 amended with biochar (0.5 and 1.0 wt%) brought about 12–20 % increase in SMX, SMZ, and SD retention compared to the untreated soil.

Conclusions

The results indicated that the presence of biochar effectively mitigated the mobility of ionized antibiotics such as SMX, SMZ, and SD in soils, which helps us reconsider the potential risk of antibiotics in the environment.

     

活化过硫酸钠氧化土壤对挥发性有机污染物吸附特性的影响

活化过硫酸钠(Sodium persulfate,SPS)氧化技术是一种新型的土壤修复技术。为了更科学地评价化学氧化处理后土壤的环境风险,本文通过亚铁离子活化过硫酸钠法对有机质(Organic matter,OM)含量存在显著差别的两种土壤进行氧化处理,比较了活化过硫酸钠氧化前后两种土壤样品对3种挥发性有机污染物的吸附特性。结果表明,亚铁活化的SPS能够氧化土壤中腐殖酸和胡敏素类的有机质。对OM含量较高的1号土,SPS氧化对有机质的去除率为71.9%。而对OM含量较低的2号土,SPS氧化对有机质的去除率为49.9%。1号土样对3种挥发性有机物的吸附以分配作用为主,氧化后的1号土样对3种物质的吸附机制不变,但吸附量有所增加;2号土样对3种挥发性有机污染物的吸附有一定的非线性,而氧化后的2号土样对3种物质的吸附线性特征增强。吸附数据用对数形式的Freundlich方程拟合得到分配系数lg Kf值,比较有机碳标化后的分配系数lg Kfoc,氧化后的土壤有机质对3种挥发性有机污染物的吸附特性有所提高。分析表明,SPS氧化了有机质中较多的极性组分(如羧基及羟基等),从而使处理后的土壤中有机质的非极性增强,强化了对非极性化合物的吸附。     

Sorption and desorption behaviors of diuron in soils amended with charcoal

Charcoal derived from the partial combustion of vegetation is ubiquitous in soils and sediments and can potentially sequester organic contaminants. To examine the role of charcoal in the sorption and desorption behaviors of diuron pesticide in soil, synthetic charcoals were produced through carbonization of red gum (Eucalyptus spp.) wood chips at 450 and 850 degrees C (referred to as charcoals BC450 and BC850, respectively, in this paper). Pore size distribution analyses revealed that BC850 contained mainly micropores (pores approximately 0.49 nm mean width), whereas BC450 was essentially not a microporous material. Short-term equilibration (< 24 h) tests were conducted to measure sorption and desorption of diuron in a soil amended with various amounts of charcoals of both types. The sorption coefficients, isotherm nonlinearity, and apparent sorption-desorption hysteresis markedly increased with increasing content of charcoal in the soil, more prominently in the case of BC850, presumably due to the presence of micropores and its relatively higher specific surface area. The degree of apparent sorption-desorption hystersis (hysteresis index) showed a good correlation with the micropore volume of the charcoal-amended soils. This study indicates that the presence of small amounts of charcoal produced at high temperatures (e.g., interior of wood logs during a fire) in soil can have a marked effect on the release behavior of organic compounds. Mechanisms of this apparent hysteretic behavior need to be further investigated.     

Influence of Increasing Soil Copper Concentration on the Susceptibility of Phosphomonoesterase and Urease to Heat Disturbance

The sorption of chromium (Cr) species to soil has become the focus of research as it dictates the bioavailability and also the magnitude of toxicity of Cr. The sorption of two environmentally important Cr species [Cr(III) and Cr(VI)] was examined using batch sorption, and the data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The effects of soil properties such as pH, CEC, organic matter (OM), clay, water-extractable SO₄ ^2– and PO₄ ^3–, surface charge, and different iron (Fe) fractions of 12 different Australian representative soils on the sorption, and mobility of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were examined. The amount of sorption as shown by K _f was higher for Cr(III) than Cr(VI) in all tested soils. Further, the amount of Cr(III) sorbed increased with an increase in pH, CEC, clay, and OM of soils. Conversely, the chemical properties of soil such as positive charge and Fe (crystalline) had a noticeable influence on the sorption of Cr(VI). Desorption of Cr(VI) occurred rapidly and was greater than desorption of Cr(III) in soils. The mobility of Cr species as estimated by the retardation factor was higher for Cr(VI) than for Cr(III) in all tested soils. These results concurred with the results from leaching experiments which showed higher leaching of Cr(VI) than Cr(III) in both acidic and alkaline soils indicating the higher mobility of Cr(VI) in a wide range of soils. This study demonstrated that Cr(VI) is more mobile and will be bioavailable in soils regardless of soil properties and if not remediated may eventually pose a severe threat to biota.     

Role of the soil particle-size fractions in the sorption and desorption of potassium

The sorption and desorption capacities of two soils (a loamy soddy-podzolic soil and a sandy clay chernozem) were analyzed. Both the entire soils and their particle-size fractions were studied. Samples were taken from the soils of long-term field experiments with fertilizers. A 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution was used as the extractant. The soil fractions <10 ??m were found to have the maximum capacities for sorption-desorption of potassium. The soil fractions <0.2 ??m were the most enriched with potassium. The use of kinetic methods of analysis allowed assessing the contributions of the particle-size fractions to the potassium status of soils with different degrees of fertilization. It was noted that different fertilizing systems had no effect on the rates of potassium desorption from the colloidal fraction, while appreciable differences among the different treatments were observed for the fractions of 0.2?C1.0 and 1?C10 ??m.     

Adsorption and Desorption of Copper in Pasture Soils

Abstract

Copper (Cu) is bound strongly to organic matter, oxides of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), and clay minerals in soils. To investigate the relative contribution of different soil components in the sorption of Cu, sorption was measured after the removal of various other soil components; organic matter and aluminum (Al) and Fe oxides are important in Cu adsorption. Both adsorption and desorption of Cu at various pH values were also measured by using diverse pasture soils. The differences in the sorption of Cu between the soils are attributed to the differences in the chemical characteristics of the soils. Copper sorption, as measured by the Freundlich equation sorption constants [potassium (K) and nitrogen (N)], was strongly correlated with soil properties, such as silt content, organic carbon, and soil pH. The relative importance of organic matter and oxides on Cu adsorption decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing solution Cu concentrations. In all soils, Cu sorption increased with increasing pH, but the solution Cu concentration decreased with increasing soil pH. The cumulative amounts of native and added soil Cu desorbed from two contrasting soils (Manawatu and Ngamoka) during desorption periods showed that the differences in the desorbability of Cu were a result of differences in the physico‐chemical properties of the soil matrix. This finding suggests that soil organic matter complexes of Cu added through fertilizer, resulted in decreased desorption. The proportions of added Cu desorbed during 10 desorption periods were low, ranging from 2.5% in the 24‐h to 6% in the 2‐h desorption periods. The desorption of Cu decreased with increasing soil pH. The irreversible retention of Cu might be the result of complex formation with Cu at high pH.     

Sorption and mobility of 14C-labeled imazaquin and metolachlor in four soils as influenced by soil properties

Aqueous batch-type sorption-desorption studies and soil column leaching studies were conducted to determine the influence of soil properties, soil and suspension pH, and ionic concentration on the retention, release, and mobility of [14C]imazaquin in Cape Fear sandy clay loam, Norfolk loamy sand, Rion sandy loam, and Webster clay loam. Sorption of [14C]metolachlor was also included as a reference standard. L-type sorption isotherms, which were well described by the Freundlich equation, were observed for both compounds on all soils. Metolachlor was sorbed to soils in amounts 2-8 times that of imazaquin, and retention of both herbicides was related to soil organic matter (OM) and humic matter (HM) contents and to herbicide concentration. Metolachlor retention was also related to soil clay content. Imazaquin sorption to one soil (Cape Fear) increased as concentration increased and as suspension pH decreased, with maximum sorption occurring in the vicinity of pK(a1) = (1.8). At pH levels below pK(a1) imazaquin sorption decreased as hydronium ions (H3O+) increased and competed for sites. NaCl was more effective than water in desorption of imazaquin at pH levels near the pK(a1). Mechanisms of bonding are postulated and discussed. The mobility of imazaquin through soil columns was in the order Rion > or = Norfolk > Cape Fear > or = Webster, whereas for metolachlor it was Rion > or = Norfolk > Webster > or = Cape Fear. Imazaquin was from 2 to 10 times as mobile as metolachlor.     

萘和p,p′-DDE在典型包气带介质上的吸附动力学及吸附-解吸特征

选取3种典型包气带土壤为吸附剂,萘和p,p′-DDE为吸附质,研究了其吸附动力学特征及吸附解吸规律。实验结果显示,初始浓度越大,吸附到达平衡所需时间就越短。数据拟合结果表明,单一级次的动力学方程难以描述两种吸附质的吸附动力学特征,分析认为土壤对有机污染物的吸附过程不是单一反应,而是有机污染物在无机矿物、无定型有机碳和凝聚型有机碳上同时进行吸附反应的复合结果。萘与p,p′-DDE的吸附、解吸过程均表现出非线性,Freundlich方程的吸附指数n在不同程度上偏离1;两种污染物在土样中的吸附过程不完全可逆,Kow、初始浓度以及土壤有机碳含量（fo）c的差异都影响其在土壤不同组分上的吸附百分比,进而影响解吸率。萘更多地吸附在无机矿物表面及无定型有机碳上,随着初始浓度的增大（37.7~780.9μg.L-1）,解吸率可从10%左右增至近85%;而当初始浓度为37.7μg.L-1时,随foc的增大（0.01%~0.65%）,解吸率由12.39%降至3.90%。p,p′-DDE则更多地吸附在凝聚型有机碳上,解吸率随浓度的变化（11.0~275.1μg.L-1）仅在1%~5%内波动,当初始浓度为11.0μg.L-1时,解吸率随foc的增大由4.49%降至1.06%。两者解吸率都和foc呈负相关关系。     

菲在土壤/沉积物上的吸附-解吸过程及滞后现象的研究

实验研究了菲在土壤 /沉积物上的吸附 解吸过程。CHL土壤和HFH沉积物中有机质的固相13 CCPMASNMR谱图很相似 ,表明样品中有机质的组成差异不大 ;菲在土壤 /沉积物上的吸附过程表现出明显的非线性 ;线性模型不适合拟合菲的吸附等温线 ,Freundlich模型和双区位反应模型 (DRDM)较好地拟合了菲的吸附等温线 ,其中DRDM模型还清楚地反映菲在低浓度和高浓度下不同的吸附方式 ;另外 ,研究表明菲在土壤 /沉积物上的解吸过程中存在明显的滞后现象 ,这可能和土壤 /沉积物有机质的异质性和土壤胶团微小孔隙的存在有关。     

生物质炭对磺胺类抗生素在坡耕地紫色土中吸附-解吸及淋溶过程的影响

吸附-解吸是影响抗生素类污染物在土壤中迁移转化及生物有效性的重要过程,本文以川中丘陵区坡耕地紫色土为研究对象,通过批量平衡实验和柱实验研究生物炭施用（投加量0(B0)、39.75 (B1)t/hm2和198.75 (B2) t/hm2）及田间老化作用（夏季干湿交替）对三种典型磺胺类抗生素（磺胺嘧啶（SD）、磺胺二甲基嘧啶（SM2）及磺胺甲恶唑（SMZ））在紫色土中的吸附-解吸和淋溶行为的影响。结果表明：在几种处理中,三种磺胺类抗生素吸附强弱的顺序都表现为SD>SMZ>SM2;与B0处理相比,添加生物炭能增加土壤对三种抗生素的吸附能力,其中SM2的吸附显著增加（P<0.05）,但这种促进作用在经过老化过程后有所减弱。在解吸过程中,三种抗生素的Freundlich常数Kf大小顺序为SD>SMZ>SM2,表明SD在土壤中吸附容量最大且不易解吸,其次是SMZ和SM2;相应的迟滞系数H大小顺序为SD相似文献   

Sorption-desorption behaviors of heavy metals by biochar-compost amendment with different ratios in contaminated wetland soil

Purpose

Heavy metal pollution in soils has become a global environmental concern. The combination of biochar and compost has already been proved to be an attractive method in contaminated soil. The objective was to study the sorption-desorption characteristics of Cd, Cu, and Zn onto soil amended with combined biochar-compost.

Materials and methods

In this study, the soil was amended with combinations of biochar and compost with different ratios at 10% (w/w). To determine the sorption-desorption behaviors of heavy metals by biochar-compost amendment with different ratios, we determine the effects of different ratios on soil properties and use batch experiments to investigate sorption-desorption behaviors of Cd, Cu, and Zn.

Results and discussion

The results show that the Langmuir and Freundlich model can well describe the adsorption isotherm of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the soils with or without biochar-compost combinations. The incorporation of amendment combinations into soil significantly promotes the sorption affinity of soil on metals. The sorption capacity of Cd and Zn was improved as the compost percentage rose in biochar-compost more likely due to the increase of organic matter and available phosphorus, while that of Cu was stronger with 10 and 20% biochar addition in biochar-compost combinations likely as the result of the formation of new specific adsorption sites and the mobile Cu adsorption in compost after adding a certain amount of biochar in amendment mixtures. Additionally, a certain proportion of biochar applied into amendment mixtures could suppress desorption of Cd and Cu by pH change, and the Zn desorption rate gradually decreased as the compost ratio increased in amendment mixtures.

Conclusions

The results indicated that the various ratios between biochar and compost have a significant effect on sorption-desorption of metals in soil, which helps us consider the effective combination of biochar and compost in soil.

     

土壤性质对1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑类离子液体吸附/脱附行为的影响

研究了2种咪唑类离子液体(ILs)——氯化1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑([Bmim][Cl])和1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑双三氟甲磺酰亚胺盐([Bmim][(CF_3SO_2)_2])在16种土壤上的吸附/脱附规律,探讨了土壤理化性质对于吸附/脱附行为的影响。研究发现,[Bmim][Cl]和[Bmim][(CF_3SO_2)_2N]的土壤吸附系数与土壤阳离子交换量(CEC)呈正相关性,相关系数(R~2)分别为0.842 9和0.835 3(P0.05),表明土壤主要通过静电作用来吸附ILs,而与土壤总有机碳含量(TOC%)的R~2值仅分别为0.003 5和0.073 0(P0.01),说明ILs与土壤有机质的疏水结合作用为相对次要。ILs阴离子基团对吸附行为有一定的影响,但并不明显。ILs吸附/脱附的迟滞系数(HI)均小于1,可能与(ILs)在土壤粘土/有机质上的不可逆结合有关。其中,CEC和[Bmim][Cl]和[Bmim][(CF_3SO_2)_2]的HI之间存在较大的相关性(R~2分别为0.772 9,0.781 5,P0.01),说明CEC对迟滞行为有着不可忽视的影响。     

土壤中黑碳对农药敌草隆的吸附-解吸迟滞行为研究

采用批处理振荡法和连续稀释法分别测定了敌草隆在人工添加黑碳土壤和自然形成的不同有机质和黑碳含量的土壤中的吸附一解吸行为。吸附结果表明，人工添加黑碳的土壤对敌草隆的吸附强度和吸附容量以及吸附等温线的非线性均随土壤黑碳添加浓度的增加而逐步增大；自然土壤的吸附容量和吸附强度随土壤总有机质含量增加而增加，但吸附等温线的非线性则与土壤中黑碳对有机质的相对含量有关，黑碳比例越高，等温线非线性越大。解吸实验结果表明，无论是人工添加黑碳的土壤还是自然土壤，对敌草隆的解吸迟滞作用均随土壤黑碳含量增高而愈明显。     

Environmental fate of two sulfonamide antimicrobial agents in soil

Veterinary antimicrobial agents have been detected in a number of environmental samples, including agricultural soils. In this study, we investigated the persistence and sorption of the sulfonamides sulfamethazine (SMZ) and sulfachloropyridine (SCP) in soil and their potential effects on soil microorganisms. The sulfonamides dissipated more rapidly from the silt loam soil as compared to the sandy soil. Average half-lives of SMZ and SPC among the two soils were 18.6 and 21.3 days, respectively. The presence of liquid swine slurry (5% v/w) decreased sulfonamide persistence in the silt loam soil. The lower persistence of the antimicrobials in liquid swine slurry-amended soil was likely due to higher microbial activity, as compared to unamended soil, and/or to the greater bioavailability of the sulfonamides to degrading microorganisms, as estimated by sorption isotherms. Concentrations of SMZ and SPC up to 100 microg g-1 had no effect on antimicrobial degradation rates and soil microorganisms. These studies suggest that higher sulfonamide concentrations would be necessary to affect the main processes controlling their environmental fates in soil, but at the concentrations normally found in the environment, there would be little or no effects.