Degradation of PCP in soils

In laboratory experiments, the degradation of PCP in soil with regard to the relationship to soil properties was studied under upland and flooded conditions using gas-chromatographic techniques. The degradation products and their behavior were elucidated by using 10 diCferent soils collected from rice fields and adjacent upland fields and one sample of a subsoil from the forest. The results are as follows:

1) The degradation of PCP in soils was faster under flooded conditions than upland conditions.

2) The degradation under flooded conditiont was more rapid in soils collected from rice fields than in those from adjacent upland fields, Tbe reverse was true under upland conditions.

3) The degradation rate was highly correlated with the organic matter content of the soil. Almost 100% of the PCP remained in the subsoil sample even after 50 days of incubation. The rate was slightly correlated with the clay mineral composition, free iron content, phosphate absorption coefficient and C.E.C., but hardly at all with texture, clay content, degree of base saturation, soil pH and available phosphorus content.

4) As the degradation products of PCP, 3 tetrachlorophenols, 4 or 5 trichlorophenols and PCP methyl ether were detected, PCP methyl elher and 2, 3, 4, 5-tetrachlorophenol were the major products, but the amount of the latter varied greatly during the course of incubation.