Activity, adsorption and mobility of three acetanilide and two new amide herbicides

Activity, adsorption, and mobility of emulsifiable concentrate (EC) and microencapsulated (ME) formulations of alachlor and acetochlor as well as of metolachlor, S-metolachlor, dimethenamid and flufenacet were studied. Petri-dish bioassay, based on root response of oats ( Avena sativa L.), was used for their activity in sand and in a silty clay loam soil, and for determination of herbicide concentrations in soil solution (not adsorbed) and in column leachates of the adsorption and mobility studies respectively. Flufenacet and both acetochlor formulations showed the highest activity in both soils and ME-alachlor and metolachlor the lowest; the activity of dimethenamid, EC-alachlor and S-metolachlor was intermediate. Activity of both formulations of alachlor and acetochlor decreased with increasing organic matter content, but alachlor activity was reduced more than that of acetochlor. Lower amounts of dimethenamid and S-metolachlor were adsorbed by soil compared with the other herbicides and, consequently, greater amounts of these two herbicides were leached through that soil. None of the herbicides tested was detected below 30 cm. Less alachlor and acetochlor were biologically available in soil solution after their application as ME-formulations and, therefore, lower amounts of both ME-alachlor and ME-acetochlor were leached through the soil compared with those applied as EC-formulations.     

Adsorption,desorption and dissipation of metolachlor in surface and subsurface soils

BACKGROUND: Variations in soil properties with depth influence retention and degradation of pesticides. Understanding how soil properties within a profile affect pesticide retention and degradation will result in more accurate prediction by simulation models of pesticide fate and potential groundwater contamination. Metolachlor is more persistent than other acetanilide herbicides in the soil environment and has the potential to leach into groundwater. Reasonably, information is needed about the dissipation and eventual fate of metolachlor in subsoils. The objectives were to evaluate the adsorption and desorption characteristics and to determine the dissipation rates of metolachlor in both surface and subsurface soil samples. RESULTS: Adsorption of metolachlor was greater in the high‐organic‐matter surface soil than in subsoils. Lower adsorption distribution coefficient (K_ads) values with increasing depth indicated less adsorption at lower depths and greater leaching potential of metolachlor after passage through the surface horizon. Desorption of metolachlor showed hysteresis, indicated by the higher adsorption slope (1/n_ads) compared with the desorption slope (1/n_des). Soils that adsorbed more metolachlor also desorbed less metolachlor. Metolachlor dissipation rates generally decreased with increasing soil depth. The first‐order dissipation rate was highest at the 0–50 cm depth (0.140 week^?1) and lowest at the 350–425 cm depth (0.005 week^?1). Degradation of the herbicide was significantly correlated with microbial activity in soils. CONCLUSION: Metolachlor that has escaped degradation or binding to organic matter at the soil surface might leach into the subsurface soil where it will dissipate slowly and be subject to transport to groundwater. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sorption and dissipation of aged metolachlor residues in eroded and rehabilitated soils

BACKGROUND: Sorption and dissipation of aged metolachlor were characterized in rehabilitated and eroded prairie soils using sequential batch slurry (conventional) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). RESULTS: In spite of an almost twofold difference in soil organic carbon (OC) content, S‐metolachlor sorption coefficients (K_d) and dissipation rates (DT₅₀) were the same in soils from different landscape positions within an eroded landform. Soil was moved within the landform to increase productivity. In areas receiving topsoil addition, S‐metolachlor K_d was higher and DT₅₀ was longer than in eroded areas. The efficiency of extraction was higher for ASE than for conventional extractions. No consistent aging effect on K_d was observed. Mineralization in 8 weeks accounted for < 10% of the applied metolachlor. CONCLUSION: The results of this laboratory study support a field dissipation study. Both showed that S‐metolachlor has the same retention and dissipation rate throughout an eroded landform, which was not expected owing to the large variability in soil properties, including OC concentrations. Altering soil properties by adding topsoil increased metolachlor sorption and persistence. The method of extraction (conventional versus ASE) affected calculated sorption coefficients and dissipation rates. In all cases, groundwater ubiquity scores (GUSs) categorized metolachlor as having intermediate mobility. Published 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

60．8％异丙甲·乙氧·扑草净EC防除花生田杂草的效果

采用田间试验测定了60．8％异丙甲·乙氧·扑草净乳油（ EC）在花生田的除草效果及其对花生的安全性。结果表明：用该药剂在花生播后苗前进行土壤处理,对马唐、鸭跖草、马齿苋、藜等具有很好的效果,推荐使用剂量1368～1824 g/hm2,药后45 d的杂草株防效为81．73％～83．69％,鲜质量防效为81．77％～84．93％。此外发现,该药剂对花生具有较高的安全性,处理区花生未见叶片黄化、畸形或苗株矮化等药害症状。与空白对照相比,施用60．8％异丙甲·乙氧·扑草净EC后增产显著,同时增产效果优于对照药剂乙草胺,说明60．8％异丙甲·乙氧·扑草净EC对花生安全,且除草、增产效果显著。     

Movement of metolachlor in soil: effect of new organo-clay formulations

The use of commercially available formulations of metolachlor has resulted in its leaching and migration to water sources. Formulations of metolachlor designed to reduce its leaching in soil have been prepared by adding the herbicide dissolved in an organic solvent or in water to organo-clay complexes. Best formulations were made when the organo-clay complex was formed by adsorbing the monovalent organic cations benzyltrimethylammonium (BTMA) or benzyltriethylammonium (BTEA) onto sodium montmorillonite (Mont) at 0.5 or 0.8 mole kg⁻¹ clay. Adsorption of metolachlor to organo-clays followed the sequence Mont-BTMA 0.5 > Mont-BTMA 0.8 > Mont-BTEA 0.8 > Mont-BTEA 0.5 > Mont. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis demonstrated the occurrence of shifts of several peaks of adsorbed metolachlor relative to the free herbicide, indicating the existence of strong interactions between metolachlor molecules and the organo-clay surface. Leaching studies employing organo-clay and commercial formulations were carried out under greenhouse and field conditions. Metolachlor applied as organo-clay formulations leached less than the commercial formulation. Organo-clay formulations prepared by adding the herbicide as a water solution showed less leaching in the soil profile than those made by using organic solvent. Under greenhouse conditions, the herbicidal activity of organo-clay formulations was similar to that of the commercial one. Under field conditions, leaching from Mont-BTMA 0.5-metolachlor was less than that from the commercial formulation, demonstrating the environmental and agricultural advantages of the organo-clay formulations of metolachlor. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of herbicides alachlor,metolachlor and oryzalin on soybean (Glycine max) leaf nitrate reductase activity*

Experiments were conducted in the field, greenhouse, and with leaf disks in test tubes to determine whether the herbicides alachlor, metolachlor, and oryzalin, commonly used for weed control in soybeans [Glycine max (L) Mer.] affect in vivo nitrate reductase activity. Plants in the field, growing in soil treated at the recommended rates were sampled at 30 and 60 days after planting. Plants grown in the greenhouse in pots non-treated and treated at the recommended area rates and at 1/2 and 3/2 times these rates were sampled at 20 and 40 days for chemical assay. In addition plants were grown in the greenhouse and sampled at 30 days for chemical assay after direct addition of the herbicide dilutions to the reagent solutions. No differences, statistically significant according to Duncan's test at the 5% level were revealed between controls and any treatment.     

Role of sorption and degradation in the herbicidal function of isoxaflutole

BACKGROUND: The fate of isoxaflutole (IFT) in soil is closely related to soil sorption. Sorption and transformation of IFT were investigated in laboratory incubations with four soils, and these results were used to interpret greenhouse studies using IFT to control several weed species. RESULTS: Degradation proceeded by previously observed pathways to form diketonitrile (DKN) and benzoic acid (BA) derivatives, as well as traces of unidentified products. Over the course of the incubation, DKN was the dominant active form of the herbicide present in the experimental system, and was thus critical to the soil activity of the herbicide for weed control. CONCLUSION: Control of most weed species appeared to be a function of both sorption and biodegradation of DKN, with greatest weed control being observed in soils in which a significant portion of the DKN that was formed persisted and remained bioavailable over the course of the incubation. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

4种酰胺类除草剂对玉米的安全性及药效

室内外测定了4种酰胺类除草剂对玉米安全性及药效。结果表明 :异丙甲草胺与异丙草胺对玉米安全性最高 ,甲草胺次之 ,乙草胺对玉米苗期有药害。田间测产证明异丙甲草胺与异丙草胺对玉米增产明显 ,而乙草胺同人工除草对比略有减产。田间药效表明乙草胺对杂草防除效果最高     

酿造用高粱土壤处理除草剂筛选

酿造用高粱田土壤处理除草剂种类较少,常用的除草剂配方中多数含有莠去津,筛选不含莠去津且药效较好的除草剂配方,具有较好的实践意义和现实意义。本文选取72%异丙甲草胺乳油、38%莠去津悬浮剂、25%二氯喹啉酸悬浮剂、33%二甲戊灵乳油、48%麦草畏水剂、75%噻吩磺隆水分散颗粒剂、15%硝磺草酮悬浮剂6种除草剂进行混配。通过田间试验进行安全性、除草效果及对高粱产量影响的研究。结果表明,38%莠去津悬浮剂+72%异丙甲草胺乳油、72%异丙甲草胺乳油+48%麦草畏水剂、38%莠去津悬浮剂+48%麦草畏水剂对高粱具有安全性高、除草效果好、提高产量的特点,30 d除草株总防效分别为96.5%、97.4%、93.4%,增产23.9%、23.6%和22.2%。在效益方面,莠去津+异丙甲草胺略高于异丙甲草胺+麦草畏。考虑到莠去津的长残留性及对生态的影响,建议使用72%异丙甲草胺乳油+48%麦草畏水剂。     

花椒粗提物对异丙甲草胺在稻田中除草效果及安全性的影响

为了探究异丙甲草胺以及花椒粗提物在水田中的除草效果与对水稻的安全性影响,在水稻移栽田中进行了药效试验。结果表明,异丙甲草胺处理组与花椒粗提物添加组对田间杂草均表现出了一定的防除效果,对单子叶杂草的防除效果最为显著,株防效为95．9％-100％;对双子叶杂草的防效相对较差,株防效仅为7．2％-76．5％;而对杂草鲜质量防效为46％～90％。用量为9000、18000、31500g／hm^2的花椒粗提物添加组与相应异丙甲草胺组比较,产量分别增加了1．4％、4．5％、12．7％。异丙甲草胺具有很强的除草活性,花椒粗提物对异丙甲草胺的除草效果影响很小,但能减缓异丙甲草胺对水稻的影响,可作为异丙甲草胺水田应用的安全剂。     

Some aspects of tri-allate volatility

The volatility of tri-allate from different formulations when mixed with 2 soils containing water at 2%, 6% and field capacity was estimated in the laboratory. Volatility increased with increasing water content in each case. It was generally highest from an emulsifiable concentrate and lowest from a granule formulation with that from unformulated tri-atlate intermediate. In a greenhouse experiment rates of loss of tri-allate from a dry soil were similar for both emulsifiable concentrate and granule formulations, but from a wet soil and an aluminium foil dish losses were much greater from the emulsifiable concentrate. The persistence of trii-allate from granules applied in the field was virtually the same for granules containing 2.5, 5 or 10% active ingredient.     

Simulation of the persistence of atrazine, linuron and metolachlor in soil at different sites in the USA

The effects of soil temperature and soil moisture content on the rates of degradation of atrazine, linuron and metolachlor were measured in the laboratory in soil from different sites in the USA. Persistence of the herbicides was measured in the same soils in the field during the summers of 1978 and 1979. Weather records from the different sites for the periods of the field experiments were used in conjunction with appropriate constants derived from the laboratory data in a computer program to simulate persistence in the field. There was a general tendency for the model to overestimate the observed soil residues. For example, with atrazine, 40 of the 48 measured residues were lower than those predicted by the model; seven were more than 30% below and two were more than 50% below. With metolachlor, 16 of the 48 measured residues were more than 30% below those predicted and six were more than 50% below; almost identical results were obtained with linuron. When the model overestimated late-season residues by a large amount, the discrepancies between predicted and observed data were usually apparent from early in the experiment. Possible reasons for the discrepancies are discussed.     

20%异丙甲 ? 苄泡腾片剂的研制及其对稻田杂草的防治效果

为了提高稻田杂草化学防除的省力化程度，降低防治成本，通过单一变量法筛选配方中的助剂种类和用量，采用干法压片工艺制备了20%异丙甲 ? 苄泡腾片剂 (有效成分异丙甲草胺 + 苄嘧磺隆)，同时进行了田间药效评价。结果表明:20%异丙甲 ? 苄泡腾片剂的优化配方(质量分数)为:16%异丙甲草胺，4%苄嘧磺隆，18%有机膨润土，9%白炭黑，20%酒石酸，20%碳酸氢钠，6%润湿剂EFW，4%分散剂G202和3%润滑剂硬脂酸镁。该泡腾片剂在有效成分120~180 g/hm2 的用量范围内能有效防除稻田杂草，防效明显优于其单剂，与已登记的20%异丙甲 ? 苄(有效成分质量比17 : 3)可湿性粉剂相当，持效期达40 d以上。所研制的20%异丙甲 ? 苄泡腾片剂表面光滑，无粉尘，使用方便，省时省工，对稻田常见杂草均有良好防效，持效期长，具有推广价值。     

Comparative fate in soil of the enantiomers of triadimenol when applied individually to barley seed

The systemic fungicide triadimenol is a mixture of four enantiomers which have different biological activities. Dissipation and metabolism of the individual enantiomers in soil were investigated after seed treatment. Forty-nine days after 1R2S and 1S2S treatments, more of the radioactivity (87% for both) had dissipated from the seeds into the 0–10 cm soil layer than after the 1S2R (76%) and 1R2R (73%) treatments. After 1R2S treatment 56% of the radioactivity extracted from soil was accounted for as the parent isomer and 44% as its 1R2R epimer. After 1S2R treatment 76% of the radioactivity was in the parent form and 24% was converted to the 1S2S (17%) and 1R2R (7%) isomers.     

精异丙甲草胺在土壤中的吸附行为及 环境影响因素研究

采用平衡振荡法研究了精异丙甲草胺在粘壤土、粘土及砂壤土中的吸附和解吸附行为。结果表明,3种土壤的吸附等温线均属L型并符合Freundlich模型,吸附常数(Kf)分别为4.01、6.15及8.62,且Kf 和1/n(n为经验常数)的乘积与土壤有机质含量呈正相关性。解吸附实验结果表明,精异丙甲草胺在土壤中的解吸附与吸附并不一致,显示出明显的滞后性。温度及pH值等环境因素对吸附影响的结果显示,随温度升高精异丙甲草胺在土壤中的吸附量有所减少,中性环境下土壤吸附量较低。     

Formulation affecting alachlor efficacy and persistence in sandy soils

BACKGROUND: The development of controlled‐release formulations of alachlor to extend the period of weed control was studied. This extended duration reduces the need for high herbicide application rates that could lead to environmental contamination. For this purpose, the influence of formulation, as well as the influence of soil characteristics, on alachlor efficacy and persistence in soil of a commercial formulation (CF) and different ethylcellulose microencapsulated formulations (MEFs) was evaluated. RESULTS: Higher alachlor rates yielded an enhanced initial herbicidal activity. The prolonged release of alachlor provided by the MEFs resulted in a higher herbicidal efficacy and a longer period of weed control compared with the effects of CF in the two soils tested (at 40 days after treatment, oat growth inhibition for CF and MEFs was 1.96% and 93.5% respectively). Soil characteristics strongly influenced alachlor efficacy and weed control by MEFs. The highest alachlor efficacy and persistence were observed in the soil with lowest microbial activity and clay and organic matter content. CONCLUSIONS: The use of MEFs can be advantageous because they permit the maintenance of the desired concentration of the herbicide in the soil for longer periods of weed control. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Potential of weed seedbanks for managing weeds: a review of recent New Zealand research

Weed seedbanks are the primary source of weeds in cultivated soils. Some knowledge of the weed seedbank may therefore be appropriate for integrated weed management programs. It would also be very useful in planning herbicide programs and reducing the total herbicide use. However, a number of problems are inherent in the estimation of the seedbank size for arable weeds that usually have annual life cycles. In a long-term research project we have investigated the dynamics of weed seedbanks in corn fields for the past 8 years. Specific studies have included (i) developing cheap and efficient methods for estimating the weed seedbank; (ii) developing guidelines for efficient soil sampling (including the number and size of samples); (iii) influence of cultivation methods on weed seed distribution; (iv) mapping the spatial variability of the seedbank; (v) estimating the rate of seedbank decline for certain weed species; and (vi) assessing the potential of using the weed seed content in the soil to predict future weed problems. This paper reviews and summarizes the results of our research on the above aspects. The strong correlation between seedlings emerged in the greenhouse and seeds extracted in the laboratory for the most abundant weed species has demonstrated the potential for using the weed seed content of the soil to predict future weed infestations. The next step is to establish correlations with field emergence under commercial conditions using the sampling guidelines developed in our studies. Subsequently, we aim to offer the weed seedbank estimation as a commercial service to farmers for planning the most appropriate weed management options.     

Weed suppression by soil steaming in combination with activating compounds

The aim of this study was to determine the weed suppression potential of soil steaming plus activating compounds (KOH or CaO) to boost soil temperature. Different combinations between the compounds and rates were tested in experiments carried out in the field and in a controlled environment. Treatment effects were assessed on field weed vegetation and on seedbank and seedling emergence of three winter ( Alopecurus myosuroides , Matricaria chamomilla and Raphanus raphanistrum ) and four spring annuals ( Amaranthus retroflexus , Echinochloa crus-galli , Fallopia convolvulus and Setaria viridis ), were assessed on field weed vegetation. Neither maximum soil temperature (from 72 to 85°C) nor duration of high temperature in the 3 h following application consistently affected weed suppression. In the field, no significant effects on total weed density were recorded, but there were some significant effects on individual species. The weed seedbank was clearly suppressed by activated steaming: total seedling emergence was inversely related to increasing KOH rates both in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil layers, while for CaO the relationship was significant only in the 0–10 cm layer. Winter annuals were more sensitive to KOH than CaO and spring annuals had a more pronounced species-specific response to treatments. There was a strong negative relationship between compound rate and seedling emergence for all species. Alopecurus myosuroides was the most sensitive to the steam-alone treatment (77% reduction), whereas M. chamomilla and E. crus-galli were the least sensitive. Results from this study indicate that the type and rates of activating compounds for soil steaming must be adjusted to the weed community composition.     

Dependence of weed flora on the active soil seedbank

Previous studies have shown that reliable predictions of the above-ground weed flora may not be obtainable by using the total number of seeds in the seedbank. The purpose of this study was to determine if the actual weed flora depends on the active soil seedbank (seeds that are germinable in the spring). In the 1995 growing season, seedling emergence was monitored within permanent quadrats established in a field. Soil cores taken from the same field were also monitored for seedling emergence in a greenhouse to estimate the number of seeds in the active soil seedbank. Significant positive relationships were observed between the above two variables based on either total weed flora or individual weed species commonly found in south-western Ontario, Canada. For relatively large-seeded species, the relationship held with a sampling depth up to 15 cm below the soil surface. For small-seeded species, a shallow sampling depth (0–7·5 cm) generated better results than deeper sampling (0–15 cm). In general, 3–7% of the seeds in the active soil seedbank were capable of producing seedlings in the field. The results suggest that the level of weed infestation in a growing season may be predicted using seeds in the active soil seedbank.     

Can the parasitic weeds Striga asiatica and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa co‐occur in rain‐fed rice?

Striga asiatica and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa are important parasitic weeds of rain‐fed rice, partly distributed in similar regions in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). It is not evident whether their ecologies are mutually exclusive or partially overlapping. In Kyela, a rice‐growing area in south Tanzania where both parasites are present, three transects of about 3 km each across the upland–lowland continuum were surveyed in June 2012 and 2013. A total of 36 fields were categorised according to their position on the upland–lowland continuum as High, Middle or Low and soil samples were taken. In each field, parasitic and non‐parasitic weed species were identified in three quadrats. Additionally, in two pot experiments with four different moisture levels ranging from wilting point to saturation, influence of soil moisture on emergence and growth of parasites was investigated. Striga asiatica was observed in higher lying drier fields, while R. fistulosa was observed in the lower lying wetter fields. Furthermore, non‐parasitic weed species that were exclusive to S. asiatica‐infested fields are adapted to open well‐drained soils, while species that were exclusive to R. fistulosa fields are typical for wet soils. The experiments confirmed that S. asiatica is favoured by free‐draining soils and R. fistulosa by waterlogged soils. These results imply that changes in climate, specifically moisture regimes, will be crucial for future prevalence of these parasitic weeds. The non‐overlapping ecological range between their habitats suggests that their distribution and associated problems might remain separate. Thus, management strategies can be focused independently on either species.