Influence of some biologically active compounds on microbial activity and on the availability of plant nutrients in soils. II. Nitrapyrin,dazomet, 2-chlorobenzamide and tributyl-3-chlorobenzylammonium bromide

The effect of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (2-chloro-6-trichloromethylpyridine), the soil partial sterilant dazomet (tetrahydro-3,5-dimethyl-1,3,5-thiadiazine-2-thione), the quaternary ammonium growth retardant tributyl-3-chlorobenzylammonium bromide, and the pre-emergent herbicide 2-chlorobenzamide on total microbial activity and available plant nutrient content of an acid and an alkaline soil during an incubation period of 6 weeks under aerobic conditions has been studied in comparison with untreated soils. The compounds were incorporated with the soils at normal application rates. At intervals determinations were made of carbon dioxide liberated, the content of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen and of some available plant nutrient mineral elements. All four compounds were found to influence these quantities. Nitrapyrin increased carbon dioxide production throughout and dazomet did so after initial depression. 2-Chlorobenzamide and the growth retardant reduced carbon dioxide liberation especially in the early stage of incubation. All the compounds retarded nitrification in both soils; an increase in ammonium nitrogen resulted in treated soils except in the alkaline soil containing the growth retardent, where ammonification was also reduced. A reduction in the content of available mineral nutrient elements was usually found suggesting interference with the biological oxidation of these elements to less available forms. However, available manganese was increased by dazomet, as were available iron and manganese by the growth retardent and 2-chlorobenzamide.     

HERBICIDAL EFFECTS ON CERTAIN SOIL MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES IN SOME BROWN SOILS OF SASKATCHEWAN

Summary. Amitrole, 2,3,6-TBA, 2,4-DB and di-allate were applied at normal field rates to a loam soil in a preliminary study, The toxic effects, as measured by nitrification studies, persisted for 8 weeks after application. After a further 8 weeks this depressive effect was decreased.
Residual effects were assayed by measuring the nitrification rate of soils following the application of the same four herbicides at two rates to four different soils. The residual effects of amitrole, di-allate, 2,3,6-TBA and 2,4-DB were overcome 34, 28, 32 and 44 weeks respectively after treatment. Total microbial counts were also corelated with the nitrification rate of the soils. The trend of disappearance of the toxic effect of these chemicals was similar in all the soils in these laboratory investigations.
Under field conditions the residual effect of amitrole, 2,3,6-TBA and 2,4-DB had disappeared by the end of 52 weeks, as far as could be determined by studies of nitrate production, ammonification and total counts of microorganisms. A second application of the chemicals 56 weeks after the initial treatment affected nitrification in the laboratory for only half as long, indicating adaptation of' the microorganisms to the herbicides
Effels des herbicides sur certaines activités des microorganismes du sol     

STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF HERBICIDES ON SOIL NITRIFICATION*

Summary. A perfusion technique was used to examine effects of selected herbicides (concentration range 50–1000 ppm) on the rate of oxidation of ammonia to nitrate in garden loam soil. Effects on the nitrification rate of soil, previously enriched with nitrifying organisms, were used to estimate direct action on the processes of ammonia oxidation. The kinetics of nitrification in fresh soil were used to estimate effects on bacterial growth and to detect possible adaptations to herbicide toxicity. The herbicides used could be ranged in the following order of increasing effectiveness as inhibitors of ammonia oxidation: dichlobenil < paraquat < picloram < 2,3,6-TBA = chlorthiamid < bromoxynil < chlorflurazole < ioxynil < propanil. Endothal only stimulated ammonia oxidation, even up to 1000 ppm. Endothal, paraquat and 2,3,6-TBA had no apparent effects on bacterial proliferation; the inhibitory effects of the remaining herbicides were in the order: picloram < dichlobenil = bromoxynil < ioxynil < chlorthiamid = chlorflurazole = propanil. With the exception of paraquat and endothal all herbicides seemed to become less toxic during perfusion of fresh soil, i.e. over the enrichment period of 26–28 days. In the case of propanil and chlorthiamid this could have been due to the destruction of the herbicide by soil micro-organisms. With picloram and 2,3,6-TBA it is probable that there was an adaptive loss of sensitivity of the nitrifying organisms to the toxic action of the herbicides. The evidence available suggests that Nitrosomonas is more sensitive than Nitrobacter to herbicide action. Recherches sur les effets des herbicides sur la nitrification Résumé. Une technique de perfusion a été utilisée pour examiner les effets d'une série d'herbicides (á des concentrations de 50 á 1000 ppm) sur le taux d'oxydation de l'ammoniac en nitrate dans un sol de jardin limoneux. Les effets sur le taux de nitrification du sol, préaiablement enrichi avec des organismea nitrifiants, ont été utilisés pour évaluer l'action directe sur les processus d'oxydation de l'ammoniac. Les données cinétiques de la nitrification dans un sol frais ont été utilisées pour évaluer les effets sur la croissance des bactéries et pour déceler les adaptations possible h la toxicité de l'herbicide. Les herbicides utilisés purent être classés comme suit dans i'ordre croissant d'activité inhibitrice de I'oxydation de I'ammoniac: dichlobénil<paraquat<piclorame<2,3,6- TBA = chlorthiamide<bromoxynil<chlorflurazole<ioxynii<propanil. Scul l'endothal provoqua une stimulation de I'oxydation de I'ammoniac jusquà 1000 ppm. L'endothal, le paraquat et le 2,3,6-TBA ne présentèrent pas d'activité apparente sur la proiifération bactérienne; les effets inhibiteurs des autres herbicides furent, dans I'ordrc: piclorame < dichlobenil = bromoxynil<ioxynil<chlorthiamide = chlorflurazole = propanil. A l'exception du paraquat et de l'endothal, tous les herbicides parurent devenir moins toxiques pendant la perfusion sur un sol frais, c'est-à-dire au deli delà période d'enrichissemenl de 26 à 28 jours. Dans le cas du dichlobénil et du chlorthiamide, ceci pourrait avoir été provoqué par la destruction de l'herbicide par lea micro-organismes. Avec le piclorame et le 2,3,6-TBA, il est probable qu'il y eut une adaptation consistanten une perte dela sensibilité des organismes nitrifiants vis-à-vis de i'action toxique des herbicides. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent que les Nitrosomonas sont plus sensibles que les JVitrobacter kà l'action des herbicides. Untersuchungen zum Einfluss von Herbiziden auf die Nitrifikation des Bodens Zusammenfassung. Mit Hilfe einer Perfusionsmethode wurde der Einfluss von bestimmten Herbiziden (Konzentration zwischen 50 und IOO ppm) auf die Oxydationsrate von Ammonium zu Nitrat in Garteniehmboden untersucht. Der Einfluss auf die Nitrifikationsrate des Bodens, der zuvor mit nitrifizierenden Organismen angereichert worden war, wurde als Mass fur die direkte Wirkung der Herbizide auf die Prozesse der Ammoniumoxydation verwendet. Die Kinetik der Nltrifikation in frischem Boden wurde als Mass für die Beeinflussung des Bakterienwaehstums und zur Feststellung einer moglicherweise auftretenden Adaptation an die Herbizidtoxizität verwendet. Für untersuehte Herbizide ergab sich, geordnet nach zunehnnender Hemmung der Ammoniumoxydation, folgende Reihenfolge: Diehlobenil<Paraquat<Pieloram<2,3,6-TBA = Chlorthiamid<Bromoxynil<Chlorflurazole<Ioxynil<Propanil. Endothal stimulierte die Ammoniumoxydation selbst in Konzentration bis zu 1000 ppm. Endothal, Paraquat und 2,3,6-TBA hatten keinen augenscheinlich Efifekt auf die bakterielle Proliferation; fur die Hemmwirkung der ubrigen Herbizide ergab sich folgende Reihenfolge: Picloram < Dichlobenil = Bromoxynil < Ioxynil < Chlorthiamid = Chlorflurazole = Propanil. Mit Ausnahme von Paraquat und Endothal wurden alle Herbizide wahrend der Perfusion dureh frisehen Boden, d.h. wahrend einer Enrichmentperiode von 26–28 Tagen, of Tensichtlich weniger toxiseh. Im Falle von Propanil und Chlorthiamid kann dies auf den Abbau der Herbizide durch die Bodenmikroorganismen zurüekzuführen sein. Bei Piclorani und 2,3,6-TBA handelte es sich wahrscheinlich um einen adaptiven Verlust der Empfindlichkeit der nitrifizierenden Organismen gegenuber der toxisehen Wirkung der Herbizide. Die Ergebnisse lassen den Sehluss zu, dass Nitrosomonas gegenüber Herbizide empfindlicher ist als Nitrobakter.     

Glasshouse trials with controlled drop application of some foliage-applied herbicides

MCPA, mecoprop, dichlorprop, dicamba, 2,3,6-TBA, bentazone, ioxynil/bromoxynil (a mixture), barban, difenzoquat and chlorfenprop-methyl were applied by spinning disc in controlled drop sizes from 150-350μm and at very low volume rates (5–45 1/ha), to the foliage of some dicotyledonous weed species or wild oats (Avena fatua L.). The same herbicides were also applied by means of conventional hydraulic nozzles at volume rates of about 200 1/ha. Most of these herbicides performed as well at very low volume rates as with the conventional application, the major exceptions being bentazone, ioxynil/bromoxynil (both of which have distinct contact effects) and dichlorprop. Comparisons between oil and water as the diluent at a very low volume rates suggest that there may be situations when oil is preferable and others when water is.     

STUDIES OF THE RESPONSE OF PLANTS TO ROOT-APPLIED HERBICIDES

Summary. Peas, barley and linseed were grown in water-cuture. Roots were divided into two portions and contained in separate vessels. The effect of herbicides applied to one-third of the roots was compared with their effect when applied to the whole root system.
Propham, chlorpropham, atratone and 2,3,6-TBA killed the plant whether application was to one-third or all of the roots. Roots in direct contact with propham, chlorpropham and 2,3,6-TBA were deformed or killed, while roots in uncontaminated solution remained healthy. The effect of atratone and high concentrations of chlorpropham on a portion of the roots was transmitted to roots not in the toxic solution.
Certain concentrations of MCPA and DNOC applied to the whole root system killed the plant while three times the concentration to one-third of the roots caused local damage but had little effect on the plant as a whole. Sufficient herbicide may be taken up by one- third of the roots from high concentrations to kill the whole plant.
TGA gave variable results with respect to the health of the aerial portion of the plant but had no obvious direct effect on root growth.
Propham, chlorpropham, atratone and 2,3,6-TBA reduced transpiration rates whether applied to part or whole root systems. MCPA and DNOC prevented water uptake by roots with which they Were in direct contact.
Etudes sur les réactions de certaines plantes à des herbicides appliqués aux racines I. Effet d'une application localisée     

Sorption and leaching potential of herbicides on Brazilian soils

Sorption of the herbicides alachlor, atrazine, dicamba, hexazinone, imazethapyr, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, simazine and sulfometuron-methyl was characterized on six Brazilian soils, using the batch equilibration method. In general, weak acid herbicides (dicamba, imazethapyr, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron and sulfometuron-methyl) were the least sorbed, whereas weak bases such as triazines and nonionic herbicides (alachlor) were the most sorbed. The Kd values found showed a significant correlation with soil organic carbon content (OC) for all herbicides except imazethapyr and nicosulfuron. Koc values showed a smaller variation among soils than Kd . To estimate the leaching potential, Koc and the ground-water ubiquity score (GUS) were used to calculate half-lives ( t_1/2 ) that would rank these herbicides as leachers or non-leachers. Comparison of calculated values to published values for t_1/2 demonstrated that sulfonylureas and hexazinone are leachers in all soils, alachlor is transitional, and atrazine, simazine and dicamba are leachers or transitional, depending on soil type. Results discussed in this paper provide background to prioritize herbicides or chemical groups that should be evaluated in field conditions with regard to their leaching potential to ground-water in tropical soils.     

Evidence for cross-adaptation between s-triazine herbicides resulting in reduced efficacy under field conditions

BACKGROUND: Enhanced atrazine degradation has been observed in agricultural soils from around the globe. Soils exhibiting enhanced atrazine degradation may be cross-adapted with other s-triazine herbicides, thereby reducing their control of sensitive weed species. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the field persistence of simazine in atrazine-adapted and non-adapted soils, (2) to compare mineralization of ring-labeled (14)C-simazine and (14)C-atrazine between atrazine-adapted and non-adapted soils and (3) to evaluate prickly sida control with simazine in atrazine-adapted and non-adapted soils.RESULTS: Pooled over two pre-emergent (PRE) application dates, simazine field persistence was 1.4-fold lower in atrazine-adapted than in non-adapted soils. For both simazine and atrazine, the mineralization lag phase was 4.3-fold shorter and the mineralization rate constant was 3.5-fold higher in atrazine-adapted than in non-adapted soils. Collectively, the persistence and mineralization data confirm cross-adaptation between these s-triazine herbicides. In non-adapted soils, simazine PRE at the 15 March and 17 April planting dates reduced prickly sida density at least 5.4-fold compared with the no simazine PRE treatment. Conversely, in atrazine-adapted soils, prickly sida densities were not statistically different between simazine PRE and no simazine PRE at either planting date, thereby indicating reduced simazine efficacy in atrazine-adapted soils.CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate the potential for cross-adaptation among s-triazine herbicides and the subsequent reduction in the control of otherwise sensitive weed species. Copyright (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Studies on the effects of herbicides on soil nitrification,II

The effects of selected herbicides have been studied on the following parameters of soil nitrification processes: the rates of nitrate and nitrite formation from ammonia in freshly perfused soils and in soils previously saturated with nitrifying organisms in an improved perfusion apparatus; the rates of oxygen consumption and of oxidation of ammonia and nitrite in washed cell suspensions of Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter winogradskii, respectively; the rates of growth of those two organisms in newly established cultures; the rates of oxygen uptake by soil enriched in nitrifying organisms; the rates of proliferation of nitrifying populations in freshly perfused soil. ID50 values were computed for all parameters and herbicides studied. On average, the most sensitive parameters were the metabolism and growth of the two organisms in pure culture, while the least sensitive were the corresponding measures in the soil environment. Similarly, herbicides fell into four distinct groups. The most toxic were the formulated octanoates of bromoxynil and ioxynil (NPH1320 and Totril, respectively); next in order of toxicity were chlorbufam, phenmedipham, formulated oxadiazon, formulated legurame, ioxynil, formulated trifluralin, and bromoxynil; low toxicity was shown by terbacil, dicamba, and tricamba, whereas asulam and the related experimental herbicide MB9555 showed activity on some parameters at the very highest concentrations only. Comparisons of soil with pure-culture parameters showed that the relative toxicities of herbicides to Nitrosomonas in culture bore little relationship to those in soil. The inhibitions of Nitrobacter proliferations in soil on the other hand were correlated with the inhibitions of growth and metabolism in pure culture. Within these overall effects, individual herbicides showed marked differential actions on various parameters. Thus, the formulated octanoates of bromoxynil and ioxynil were extremely toxic to the growth of nitrifying organisms in culture, an action probably due to an unknown formulation component. Relative to other herbicides, bromoxynil and ioxynil were more effective on nitrification processes in the soil environment. Both in culture and in the soil, Nitrobacter is more sensitive than Nitrosomonas to these four herbicides. Legurame and oxadiazon are relatively more toxic to Nitrosomonas in culture, but this differential action is not demonstrable in the soil. Dicamba, tricamba, trifluralin, and chlorbufam are more toxic to Nitrobacter than to Nitrosomonas in the soil environment. Formulated trifluralin seems to exert a stimulating action on the growth of nitrifying organisms, but only in the soil; suppression of antagonistic organisms is suggested as a possible cause. Extrapolation of these results to the field situation suggests that the only herbicide which might cause small inhibitions of nitrification at field rates is terbacil, which is disproportionately toxic at low concentrations. At rates somewhat in excess of normal, the formulated octanoates of bromoxynil and ioxynil and possibly dicamba and oxadiazon could also cause small inhibitions.     

The comparative behaviour of simazine and terbacil in soils

Adsorption of simazine (2-chloro-4,6-bisethyl-amino-1,3,5-triazine) was 2.2–4 times greater than that of terbacil (5-chloro-6-methyl-3-t-butyl-uracil) in the same soils and adsorption of both herbicides was 2–4 times greater in the topsoils than subsoils. Adsorption was inversely correlated with herbicide movement in a thick-layer chromatography system. One year after application of 3 kg/ha to field plots, simazine residues were highest near the soil surface, whereas terbacil residues increased with soil depth in the sandy and sandy loam soils. Total residues recovered from the upper 25 cm of soils was 5% or less of the simazine originally applied, and 10% or less of the applied terbacil. In an oat seedling bio-assay, the GR₅₀ values were generally 1.5–3 times higher for simazine than for terbacil in the same soils.     

The effect of soil aggregate size and water content on herbicide concentration in soil water

Suspensions of wettable powders of metribuzin and simazine were sprayed onto samples of two soils of two particle size grades, > 2.5 mm and <0.5 mm. The soils were either air-dry or at a water content of 12%. After either 1 h or 1 week, water was added to give a soil to water ratio of 1:1. Samples of solution were analysed after 1, 24 and 48 h. With metribuzin the intial concentration for both soils after wetting was greater from the >2.5 mm samples than the <0.5 mm samples, following application to dry soil, but by 48 h the differences were negligible. With simazine WRO soil did not show this effect at all and with Kirton soil only small differences were seen. If the soil was wet at the time of application, particle size had no effect except with simazine in Kirton soil. Generally metribuzin concentrations were higher after application to wet than to dry soils for at least 24 h after wetting whereas simazine concentrations were higher from initially dry soils and the differences had virtually disappeared 24 h after wetting. With the WRO soil herbicide concentrations in soil water were higher if the soil was wetted 1 h after spraying than if left for 1 week but the differences rarely persisted for 48 h. No such trend was observed with Kirton soil. It is concluded that the differences observed in these experiments could be responsible for variations in the performance of soil-applied herbicides.     

The in vitro sensitivity of some species of Chlorophyceae to a selected range of herbicides

A survey was undertaken to establish the sensitivity of seventeen algal strains belonging to the Chlorophyceae to a selected range of herbicides up to a concentration maximum of 10 ppm under in vitro conditions. The herbicides were found to vary considerably in their toxicity to algae and a sequence was established based upon the magnitude of this toxicity: diuron > bromacil > paraquat> monuron> diquat> linuron> 2, 4-DB >barban> dicamba, dichlobenil, dalapon, picloram> bromoxynil, 2,3,6-TBA > 2.4-DP. 2,4,5-T and EPTAM. Of the algae, the most sensitive genera were Hormidium and Haematococcus, and the strain most sensitive to a wide range of herbicides was Hormidium barlowi (strain 335/la).     

Residualwirkung von Chlortriazin-Herbiziden im Boden an drei rumänischen Standorten. I. Prognose der Persistenz von Simazin und Atrazin im Boden

Residual effects of chlorotriazine herbicides in soil at three Rumanian sites. I. Prediction of the persistence of simazine and atrazine Persistence of simazine and atrazine in the top 10 cm soil was measured at three sites in Rumania with variations in climate and soil conditions. Both herbicides were applied at 1 and 3 kg ai ha^?1 to uncropped plots and to plots cropped with maize (Zea mays L.). Rates of residue decline were independent of application rate and crop cover but varied between sites. The time for 50% loss of atrazine varied from 36 to 68 days and that of simazine from 48 to 70 days. Laboratory studies were made with atrazine to characterize degradation rates under standard conditions and to measure adsorption and leaching behaviour in the different soils. Weather records for the periods of the field experiments were used in conjunction with appropriate constants derived from the laboratory results, or from data in the literature, in a computer program to simulate persistence in the field. Results from the model were in reasonable agreement with the observed soil residues although there was a tendency to overestimate rates of loss on some occasions. The results suggest that the model of persistence was sufficiently accurate for practical purposes, and that its use could preclude the need for extensive analytical measurements of residues.     

Tests of soil fertility following repeated applications of MCPA, tri-allate, simazine and linuron

The following herbicides were applied annually from 1963 to experimental plots of appropriate crops grown in monoculture: MCPA 1.7 kg ha^?1, triallate 1.7 kg ha^?1, simazine 1.7 kg ha^?1 and linuron 0.84 kg ha^?1 (applied twice per year). Before the eighth treatment in 1970, nutrient status, pH and growth in greenhouse tests of a range of plants were similar in soils from treated and control plots. There were no significant differences in yield when several test crops were grown in the field plots in 1977. In a similar experiment which ran for 6 years, the same herbicides were applied twice per year at twice the above rates on each occasion (three times a year at 1.7 kg ha^?1 in the case of linuron) to uncropped plots. Three years after the last treatment, there were no differences in extractable nutrients, pH, soil structure and crop yield on treated or control plots. These results support the conclusion from the main monitoring of the experiments reported elsewhere that annual treatments with these herbicides have had no adverse affect on the soil.     

Influence of Compost Addition to Soil on the Behaviour of Herbicides

The transformations of eight herbicides (atrazine, simazine, terbutryn, pendimethalin, carbetamide, 2,4-D, metsulfuron-methyl and dimefuron) in soil after compost addition were monitored during long-term laboratory incubations. The herbicides were applied to soil, compost and soil-compost mixtures. Herbicide sorption, their kinetics of mineralisation and the extractability of residues were compared in the different treatments. Compost addition to soil generally decreased herbicide mineralisation and favoured the stabilisation of herbicide residues. A fraction of the stabilised residues remained extractable and potentially available. However, most of them were unextractable and formed bound residues. Sorption could be at the origin of a kinetically limited biodegradation, mainly for the most highly-sorbed herbicides (atrazine, simazine, terbutryn, pendimethalin and dimefuron). Compost addition had little effects on the less sorbed herbicides (carbetamide, 2,4-D and metsulfuron- methyl). © 1997 SCI.     

作物种类对根际土壤中丁草胺降解的影响

研究了根际和非根际土壤中除草剂丁草胺的降解。结果表明,棉花、水稻、小麦和玉米的种植明显促进丁草胺的降解,15 mg/kg丁草胺的降解半衰期缩短26.6%~57.2%,这种促进作用与作物种类有关,玉米、小麦、水稻、棉花依次增强。50 mg/kg丁草胺的降解有所受抑制,但作物种植仍显示良好的促进作用。作物根际丁草胺降解菌的测定结果显示,根际土壤中丁草胺降解菌的数量大于非根际土壤,作物种植对丁草胺降解的促进作用源于根际丰富的降解菌。     

Degradation of chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron in alkaline soils under laboratory conditions

The degradation of chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron was investigated in alkaline soils (pH 7.1–9.4) spiked at 40 μg a.i. kg^–1 under laboratory conditions at 25 °C and a moisture content corresponding to 70% field capacity (–33 kPa), using high-performance liquid chromatography. Degradation data for the two herbicides did not follow first-order kinetics, and observed DT₅₀ values in surface soils ranged from 19 to 42 days and from 3 to 24 days for chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron respectively. Disappearance of both chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron was faster in non-sterile than in sterile soil, demonstrating the importance of microbes in the breakdown process. The persistence of chlorsulfuron increased with increasing depth, which can be attributed to the decline in the microbial populations down the profile. The DT₅₀ value for chlorsulfuron at 30–40 cm depth was nearly four times higher than that in the top-soil. The results obtained show that persistence of these herbicides in alkaline surface soils at 25 °C and at a moisture content of 70% field capacity is similar to those reported in other European and North American soils. The study shows that if these herbicides are contained in surface soil layers, the risk of residue carry-over under southern Australian conditions is small. However, the rate of their degradation in alkaline subsoils is very slow, and under conditions conducive to leaching their prolonged persistence in the soil profile is possible.     

A comparison of the tolerance by winter wheat of herbicide mixtures containing dicamba and 2,3,6-TBA, or ioxynil

The tolerance by winter wheat of two types of herbicide was examined in field experiments over 3 years. When overdosed or sprayed late, an ioxynil + mecoprop mixture had a greater margin of safety to the crop than mixtures containing dicamba or 2,3,6-TBA. Herbicide mixtures containing MCPA, applied before the leaf sheaths of the crop began to extend in the spring caused ear deformities. Spraying dicamba mixtures when the crop was jointing resulted in narrowed ears and shrivelled grain, In one experiment the latter effect was produced by a dicamba mixture, at twice the recommended dose, when sprayed on any of ten dates, covering crop development stages from 6-leaves through to jointing. Varieties differed in their tolerance of the dicamba mixtures; Maris Ranger was most sensitive but part of this difference could have been due to differences in the stage of development of the varieties at the time of spraying.     

Simulation of herbicide persistence in soil .II. Simazine and linuron in long-term experiments

The rates of degradation of simazine and linuron were measured in soil from plots not treated previously with these herbicides. Degradation of both compounds followed first-order kinetics and soil temperature and soil moisture content had a marked effect on the rate of loss. With linuron, half-lives increased from 36 to 106 days with a reduction in temperature from 30° to 5°C at 4% soil moisture, and from 29 to 83 days at 12% soil moisture. Similar temperature changes increased the half-life of simazine from 29 to 209 days and from 16 to 125 days at soil moisture contents of 4 and 12% respectively. A computer program which has been developed for simulation of herbicide persistence was used in conjunction with the laboratory data and the relevant meteorological records for the years 1964 to 1968 in order to test the model against previously published field persistence data for the two herbicides. The results with simazine showed a close correspondence between observed and predicted residue levels but those for linuron, particularly in uncropped plots, were satisfactory for limited periods only.     

Simulation of herbicide persistence in soil .I. Simazine and prometryne

The effects of soil temperature and soil moisture content on the rates of degradation of simazine and prometryne were measured under controlled conditions. The time for 50% disappearance of simazine in a sandy loam soil varied from 37 days at 25°C and 13 % soil moisture to 234 days at 15°C and 7% soil moisture. With prometryne, changes in soil moisture content had a greater effect on the rate of loss than similar changes with simazine. The time for 50% disappearance at 25°C was increased from 30 to 590 days with a reduction in soil moisture content from 14 to 5%. With both herbicides, the rate of degradation increased as the initial herbicide concentration decreased and the data suggest that a hyperbolic rate law may be more appropriate than simple first-order kinetics. Degradation curves for three separate field applications of the two herbicides were simulated using the laboratory data and the relevant meteorological records in a computer program. A close fit to the observed pattern of loss of incorporated prometryne was obtained, but prometryne surface-applied was lost rapidly during the first 30–40 days after application. This initial rapid loss could not be predicted by the program. With simazine, the patterns of loss of surface and incorporated treatments were similar, but the simulation model tended to overestimate residue levels. Possible reasons for the discrepancies are discussed.     

Movement of pendimethalin,ioxynil and soil particles to field drainage tiles

Knowledge of the movement of herbicides and soil particles to sub-surface tile drainage may help to predict chemical leaching to surface waters and deeper groundwater systems. The movement of pendimethalin (2 years), ioxynil (1 year) and soil particles (3 years) to two tile drains was investigated on a sandy loam soil under natural weather conditions. Herbicide and particle concentrations in the drain water showed a very dynamic pattern. The largest herbicide concentrations were detected during the first tile drain flow events after application. Very little herbicide was lost with drain water later than 2 months after application. The turbidity, reflecting concentrations of soil particles, correlated positively and strongly with the pendimethalin concentration and negatively with the rate of drain water discharge, whereas it was uncorrelated with the ioxynil concentration. Peak turbidity values occurred during or shortly after rainfall events, either in break of frost situations, or on unfrozen soil coinciding with the occurrence of peak moisture contents in the topsoil well (3-7%) above field capacity. On average, 0.0013% of the applied pendimethalin and 0.0015% of the applied ioxynil were lost with drain water. The results suggest that preferential flow promotes the movement of all three substances to the tile drains but indicate somewhat different transport mechanisms for the two herbicides.