P. M. Huang,D. L., Sparks and S. A. Boyd (eds.), Future Prospects for Soil Chemistry. SSSA Special Publication No. 55

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution -     

Monosodium L-glutamate: its pharmacology and role in the Chinese restaurant syndrome

Monosodium L-glutamate is the cause of the Chinese restaurant syndrome and can precipitate headaches. In appropriate doses it causes burning sensations, facial pressure, and chest pain. These are pharmacological effects obeying a dose-effect relationship. There is considerable variation in oral threshold does among individuals.     

Adsorption,decomposition and movement of oxamyl in soil

A study was conducted of the behaviour of oxamyl in Israeli soils of varying clay and organic matter contents. The adsorption isotherms for oxamyl were linear, and the adsorption coefficient (K_d) could be correlated to the clay content of the soils, as well as to the organic matter content of the soil. Oxamyl adsorption was underestimated by using published correlations between the adsorption and the chemical properties of pesticides, such as their solubility or octan-1-ol-water partition coefficient. The decomposition of oxamyl in soils followed first-order kinetics. The half-life ranged from 4 to 33 days in a Bet Dagan soil. The reaction rate increased with increasing moisture content of the soil until field capacity was reached, at which point it levelled off. The Arrhenius relationship was followed, with degradation proceeding more rapidly at higher temperatures. In several soils of varying composition, which were kept at field capacity, no difference in the degradation rates was observed. Oxamyl was applied to a Bet Dagan soil from a point source in a single pulse, as a split application, and on a continuous basis. The distribution patterns of oxamyl under the various treatments differed significantly. After the single-pulse application, oxamyl was leached out of the emitter zone. While the split application decreased the oxamyl-free zone, the best results were obtained by continuous application, which gave a nearly uniform distribution of oxamyl in the soil.     

Field distribution of pesticides applied via a drip irrigation system

Summary A field study was conducted on the application of herbicides via drip irrigation systems. The parameters studied were the rate and frequency of water application. Two herbicides were examined: bromacil — readily soluble and mobile in soils, and napropamide — with low solubility and only slight mobility. Application of these compounds in the field indicated that an increased water application rate results in greater lateral movement. After several weeks of irrigation, surface concentrations of both compounds were found at 30–50 cm from the emitter. Daily irrigation resulted in greater surface accumulation than weekly irrigation, where accumulation deep in the soil profile was found to occur.Contribution No. 923-E, 1983 series, Institute of Soils and Water, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel     

Effect of soil moisture on the release of alachlor from alginate-based controlled-release formulations

The release of alachlor from controlled-release formulations (CRFs) based on alginate-montmorillonite matrices into aqueous polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions of different concentrations and into a soil at different moisture contents was studied. In distilled water and in PEG-containing solutions displaying -0.1 MPa potential and up, the beads imbibe water and swell. The ensuing increase in weight is about 5%, and the increase in the bead's diameter is about 10%. At water potentials of -0.5 MPa and lower, loss of weight and shrinkage of the beads were observed. The changes in weight and diameter of the alginate-clay beads incubated in a Hamra loamy sand soil at 26.5% moisture content (w/w; -0.18 MPa) were similar to those observed in PEG solutions of >-0.5 MPa moisture potential. The weight and diameter losses observed in the drier soils (12.0 and 7.1% water content; -0.49 and -1.11 MPa) were similar to those in the more concentrated PEG solutions. A decrease in the rate of release of the active ingredient from the beads into soil was observed as the water potential decreased (drier soils). The release of the active ingredient from the investigated CRFs displayed a linear relationship to the square root of time, suggesting a diffusion-controlled-release rate. Data extracted from this relationship enabled the formulation of a mathematical model that correlates rate of release to water content.