Factors influencing degradation of pesticides in soil

Degradation and sorption of six acidic pesticides (2,4-D, dicamba, fluroxypyr, fluazifop-P, metsulfuron-methyl, and flupyrsulfuron-methyl) and four basic pesticides (metribuzin, terbutryn, pirimicarb, and fenpropimorph) were determined in nine temperate soils. Results were submitted to statistical analyses against a wide range of soil and pesticide properties to (i) identify any commonalities in factors influencing rate of degradation and (ii) determine whether there was any link between sorption and degradation processes for the compounds and soils studied. There were some marked differences between the soils in their ability to degrade the different pesticides. The parameters selected to explain variations in degradation rates depended on the soil-pesticide combination. The lack of consistent behavior renders a global approach to prediction of degradation unrealistic. The soil organic carbon content generally had a positive influence on degradation. The relationship between pH and degradation rates depended on the dominant mode of degradation for each pesticide. There were positive relationships between sorption and rate of degradation for metsulfuron-methyl, pirimicarb, and all acidic pesticides considered together (all P < 0.001) and for dicamba and all bases considered together (P < 0.05). No relationship between these processes was observed for the remaining seven individual pesticides.     

Bioremedial potential of fenamiphos and chlorpyrifos degrading isolates: Influence of different environmental conditions

Previously isolated bacterial strains for chlorpyrifos and fenamiphos degradation were used to examine their potential as bioremedial agents in soils and water containing pesticide residues. Both, chlorpyrifos-degrading Enterobacter sp and fenamiphos-degrading consortium rapidly degraded pesticides when inoculated into natural and sterile water and soils. Degradation rate was slower in lower pH soils in comparison with natural and alkaline soils. Soil organic matter had no impact on pesticide degrading ability of isolates. Soil moisture <40% of maximum water-holding capacity slowed down degradation rate. The bacterial isolates were able to rapidly degrade fenamiphos and chlorpyrifos between 15 and 35 °C but their degradation ability was sharply reduced at 5 and 50 °C. Both groups of bacterial systems were also able to remove a range of pesticide degradation. An inoculum density of 10⁴ cells g⁻¹ of soil was required for initiating rapid growth and degradation. Ageing of pesticide in soils prior to inoculation produced contrasting results. Ageing of fenamiphos had no impact on subsequent degradation by the inoculated consortium. However, degradation of chlorpyrifos by Enterobacter sp after aging resulted in persistence of ∼10% of pesticide in soil matrix. Higher K_oc value of chlorpyrifos may have resulted in a lack of bioavailability of a smaller percentage of chlorpyrifos to degrading bacteria. Overall, this paper confirms bioremedial potential of a fenamiphos degrading consortium and a chlorpyrifos degrading bacterium under different soil and water characteristics.     

Effect of different soil textures on leaching potential and degradation of pesticides in biobeds

Biobeds can be used to intercept pesticide-contaminated runoff from the mixing/washdown area, creating optimum conditions for sorption and biodegradation such that the amount of pesticide reaching adjacent water bodies is significantly reduced. The biobed is built on the farm using locally available materials, which include, straw, compost, and topsoil. The topsoil acts as the inoculum for the system and is likely to vary in terms of its physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics from one farm to another. This study therefore investigated the effects of using different soil types on the degradation and leaching potential from biobeds. Three contrasting topsoils were investigated. Leaching studies were performed using isoproturon, dimethoate, and mecoprop-P, which were applied at simulated disposal rates to 1.5 m deep biobeds. Annual average concentrations were similar for each soil type with leaching losses of even the most mobile (Koc = 12-25) pesticide <1.64% of the applied dose. Greater than 98% of the retained pesticides were degraded in all matrices. Degradation studies investigated the persistence of individual pesticides and pesticide mixtures in the different matrices. DT50 values for isoproturon, chlorothalonil, mecoprop-P, and metsulfuron-methyl applied at 4 times the maximum approved rate were similar across the biomix types and were all less than or equal to reported DT50 values for soil treated at approved rates. When applied as a mixture, DT50 values in each biomix increased, indicating that interactions between pesticides are possible. However, DT90 values of <167 days were obtained in all circumstances, indicating a negligible risk of accumulation. Studies therefore indicate that substrate will have little impact on biobed performance so it should be possible to use local soils in the construction process.     

Occurrence,Degradation and Fate of Pesticides During Composting

This paper reviews the findings of research reported in the currently available literature regarding the occurrence and transformations of pesticides through the composting process and the use of compost. Part I summarizes the composting process, pesticides and mechanisms of pesticide degradation. Part II reviews research studies concerning the occurrence and fate of pesticides during composting. Investigations of pesticide residues in composting feedstocks and finished compost detected few of the target pesticides. The compounds that were found occurred at low concentrations. The majority of the compounds detected were insecticides in the organochlorine category, including chemicals that have been banned from use in the U.S. for many years. Generally, organophosphate and carbamate insecticides and most herbicides were rarely detected. Comparisons of pesticide concentrations before and after composting also showed organochlorine compounds to be most resistant to biodegradation during composting. With some exceptions, pesticides in other categories decomposed moderately well to very well. Studies that followed the mechanisms of degradation indicate that mineralization accounts for only a small portion of pesticide disappearance. Other prominent fates include partial degradation to secondary compounds, adsorption, humification, and volatilization. In general the research results suggest that the pattern of pesticide degradation during composting is similar to the degradation observed in soils. With a few important distinctions, composting can be considered a biologically active soil environment in which degradation is accelerated. However, as some studies noted, composting does not always speed the degradation of all pesticides. The nature of the pesticide, specific composting conditions and procedures, the microbial communities present, and the duration of composting affect the extent and the mechanisms of degradation.     

Literature Review: Occurrence,Degradation and Fate of Pesticides During Composting: Part II: Occurrence and Fate of Pesticides in Compost and Composting Systems

This paper reviews the findings of research reported in the currently available literature regarding the occurrence and transformations of pesticides through the composting process and the use of compost. Part I summarizes the composting process, pesticides and mechanisms of pesticide degradation. Part II reviews research studies concerning the occurrence and fate of pesticides during composting. Investigations of pesticide residues in composting feedstocks and finished compost detected few of the target pesticides. The compounds that were found occurred at low concentrations. The majority of the compounds detected were insecticides in the organochlorine category, including chemicals that have been banned from use in the U.S. for many years. Generally, organophosphate and carbamate insecticides and most herbicides were rarely detected. Comparisons of pesticide concentrations before and after composting also showed organochlorine compounds to be most resistant to biodegradation during composting. With some exceptions, pesticides in other categories decomposed moderately well to very well. Studies that followed the mechanisms of degradation indicate that mineralization accounts for only a small portion of pesticide disappearance. Other prominent fates include partial degradation to secondary compounds, adsorption, humification, and volatilization. In general the research results suggest that the pattern of pesticide degradation during composting is similar to the degradatiion observed in soils. With a few important distinctions, composting can be considered a biologically active soil environment in which degradation is accelerated. However, as some studies noted, composting does not always speed the degradation of all pesticides. The nature of the pesticide, specific composting conditions and procedures, the microbial communities present, and the duration of composting affect the extent and the mechanisms of degradation.     

A review on phorate persistence, toxicity and remediation by bacterial communities

Pesticides are an integral part in maintaining agriculture and horticultural productivity and play a vital role in meeting the increasing food, fiber, and fuel needs of the growing population. Globally, organophosphate pesticides(OPPs) are among the most common pesticides used due to their high proficiency and relatively low persistence in the environment. However, recent studies have reported problems due to pesticide use, e.g., phorate contamination of aquatic ecosystems(fresh and groundwater), sediments, fruits and vegetables, and forage crops. This review highlights many cases where phorate has been detected above its respective maximum residue limit values. Organophosphate pesticides, including phorate, have negative impacts on both the environment and human health. The ecological and public health concerns of recurrent pesticide utilization have encouraged the research related to environmental fate of pesticides.Bioremediation is an effective, eco-friendly, and financially viable approach for the decontamination and degradation of toxic OPPs from the environment,compared to the costly, unecological, and time-consuming physicochemical approaches, which lead to the generation of byproducts of higher toxicity.Researchers have recognized that a wide range of microbes, mainly bacteria, can degrade this extremely hazardous pesticide. Therefore, this review discusses the present pesticide scenarios, especially phorate contamination, its toxicity, biodegradation, and metabolic products via bacterial communities, both in India and globally. The latest and up-to-date literatures on the use, contamination, and bacterial application of phorate degradation are also summarized. This article offers national and international food safety organizations and public health authorities the ability to be involved in preventing the risks associated with the use of food and nutrition products contaminated with extremely toxic phorate pesticide. This article would also enable researchers to develop comprehensive and sustainable methods to effectively remediate pesticide-contaminated environments. In conclusion, it is envisaged that the successful application of bacterial communities for degradation of phorate would help in understanding the fate and persistence of such toxic pollutants in a better way.     

Fertilization can modify the non-target effects of pesticides on soil microbial communities

A three-month mesocosm experiment was performed to unravel interactions between pesticides (difenoconazole: fungicide, deltamethrin: insecticide, ethofumesate: herbicide) and fertilizers (NPK synthetic fertilizer, compost) regarding the potential non-target effects of pesticides on soil microbial communities. To this aim, pesticides and fertilizers were applied to soil at a rate of 5 mg active ingredient kg⁻¹ DW soil and 185 mg N kg⁻¹ DW soil, respectively. Soil sampling was done after 0, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation in order to determine pesticide degradation rates and microbial properties: enzyme activities, basal respiration, substrate-induced respiration, potentially mineralizable N, nitrification rate and denitrification potential. By the end of the incubation, difenoconazole, deltamethrin and ethofumesate in non-fertilized soils were degraded by 52, 85 and 93%, with half-lives of 86, 36 and 29 days, respectively. Compost application had a stimulatory effect on difenoconazole and deltamethrin degradation. NPK fertilization led to a 26% increase in ethofumesate half-life in soil. Difenoconazole and deltamethrin caused a short-term inhibitory effect on microbial activity in non-fertilized soils, but not in fertilized soils. A short-term antagonistic effect between NPK fertilization and deltamethrin or ethofumesate presence was found regarding their inhibitory effect on potentially mineralizable N. In compost-fertilized soils, pesticides (especially, ethofumesate) counteracted the stimulatory effect of compost on denitrification potential. Pesticides caused a slight negative effect on the capacity of soils to recycle nutrients that was counteracted at day 90 by the addition of compost, as reflected by the values of the treated-soil quality index. We concluded that fertilizers can modify both pesticide degradation rates and their non-target effects on soil microbial communities.     

Cross-enhancement of accelerated biodegradation of organophosphorus compounds in soils: Dependence on structural similarity of compounds

Rates of degradation of seven organophosphate nematicides and insecticides were examined in two soils known to show accelerated biodegradation of fenamiphos and one soil known to show accelerated biodegradation of chlorpyrifos. The results indicated that several organophosphate insecticides and one nematicide were susceptible to cross-enhanced degradation in the soil showing accelerated biodegradation of chlorpyrifos. No cross-enhancement was observed in the two soils showing accelerated degradation of fenamiphos. Fumigation resulted in the complete inhibition of pesticide degradation in all soils. The data suggested that the cross-enhancement of selected pesticides in chlorpyrifos-degrading soil was dependent on the structural similarity of the compounds. Mechanisms of degradation of pesticide in soil support this hypothesis, where structurally similar compounds (diazinon, parathion, coumaphos and isazofos) were hydrolysed by microbial activity in chlorpyrifos-degrading soil but the degradation products were accumulated. Enhanced degradation of chlorpyrifos and fenamiphos was found to be stable in the laboratory condition for a period of one year.     

不同施肥条件下氯氰菊酯对土壤酶活性的影响及其降解差异

采用长期定位施肥试验土壤（轻壤质黄潮土），研究不同施肥条件下，氯氰菊酯降解变化和对土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明，不同的施肥处理对土壤中氯氰菊酯的降解行为有显著影响，长期施用氮肥，土壤中速效氮含量升高，对氯氰菊酯降解有抑制作用；施用磷肥则促进降解；施用有机肥在提高土壤有机质含量的同时，虽加速了氯氰菊酯降解，但降解延滞期和残留期有所增加。氯氰菊酯在土壤中的降解遵循一级动力学方程，降解半衰期为10．13d（PK）～14．58d（NK）。土壤中加入氯氰菊酯后，脱氢酶、脲酶活性有所升高，施肥处理不同，升高幅度也不一样．均达显著水平。磷酸酶活性变化在不同施肥处理中，表现不一样。培养26d左右，土壤酶活性大多都能恢复到初始水平。研究土壤中农药残留与施肥、土壤酶活性的关系，对于实现农业可持续发展具有重要意义。     

Degradation of pesticides in nursery recycling pond waters

Recycling or collection ponds are often used in outdoor container nursery production to capture and recycle runoff water and fertilizers. Waters in recycling ponds generally have high concentrations of nutrients, pesticides, and dissolved organic matter, as well as elevated salinity and turbidity. Little is known about pesticide degradation behavior in the unique environment of nursery recycling ponds. In this study, degradation of four commonly used pesticides diazinon, chlorpyrifos, chlorothalonil, and pendimethalin in waters from two nursery recycling ponds was investigated at an initial pesticide concentration of 50 microg/L. Results showed that the persistence of diazinon and chlorpyrifos appeared to be prolonged in recycling pond waters as compared to surface streamwaters, possibly due to decreased contribution from biotic transformation, while degradation of chlorothalonil and pendimethalin was enhanced. Activation energies of biotic degradation of all four pesticides were lower than abiotic degradation, indicating that microbial transformation was less affected by temperature than chemical transformation. Overall, the pesticide degradation capacity of recycling ponds was better buffered against temperature changes than that of surface streamwaters.     

Kinetic Modelling of Pesticidal Degradation and Microbial Growth in Soil

This paper discusses such models for the degradation kinetics of pesticides in soil as the model expressing the degradation rate as a function of two varables:the pesticide concentration and the number of pesticide degrading microorganisms,the model expressing the pesticide concentration as explicit or implicit function of time ,and the model exprssing the pesticide loss rate constants as functions of temperature,These models may interpret the degradation curves with an inflection point.A Kinetic model describing the growth processes of microbial populations in a closed system is reported as well.     

Characterization of nicosulfuron availability in aged soils

Sorption-desorption interactions of pesticides with soil determine their availability for transport, plant uptake, and microbial degradation. These interactions are affected by the physical-chemical properties of the pesticide and soil, and for some pesticides, their residence time in the soil. This research evaluated changes in sorption/availability of nicosulfuron (2-[[[[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]-N,N-dimethyl-3-pyridinecarboxamide) herbicide with aging in different soils, using a radiolabeled ((14)C) tracer. Aging significantly increased sorption. For instance, after the 41-day incubation, calculated K d,app increased by a factor of 2 to 3 in Mollisols from the Midwestern United States and by a factor of 5 to 9 in Oxisols from Brazil and Hawaii, as compared to freshly treated soils. In view of this outcome, potential transport of nicosulfuron would be overpredicted if freshly treated soil K d values were used to predict transport. The fact that the nicosulfuron solution concentration decreased faster than the soil concentration with time suggested that the increase in sorption was because the rate of degradation in solution and on labile sites was faster than the rate of desorption of the neutral species from the soil particles. It may have also been due to nicosulfuron anion diffusion to less accessible sites with time, leaving the more strongly bound neutral molecules for the sorption characterization. Regardless of the mechanism, these results are further evidence that increases in sorption during pesticide aging should be taken into account during the characterization of the sorption process for mathematical models of pesticide degradation and transport.     

Insecticide dissipation after repeated field application to a Northern Thailand Ultisol

Nontarget effects of pesticides may occur when the active ingredients have a long persistence in the environment. The half-lives of six insecticides commonly used in Thai fruit orchards under tropical field conditions were determined. A mixture of endosulfan-alpha and -beta, chlorpyrifos, malathion, dimethoate, and mevinphos was applied five times in 10-day intervals onto an Ultisol (lychee plantation ground-covered with grass vegetation, northwestern Thailand). On days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 after each application, composite samples of the topsoil (0-10 cm) were collected and exhaustively extracted. Fitting a first-order model to the datasets revealed rapid initial dissipation [half-lives from 2.2 +/- 0.4 (malathion) to 5.4 +/- 1.3 days (chlorpyrifos)]. Volatilization appeared to be a major process of pesticide dissipation, especially for malathion and mevinphos. Because 8% of the applied endosulfan-alpha and -beta had been converted to the sulfate metabolite within 1 day after the first application, also microbial degradation contributed significantly to pesticide dissipation. Nevertheless, no trend in half-lives over the five application cycles could be observed, indicating that accelerated microbial degradation did not occur for these insecticides following the five applications. Precipitation and soil moisture were key parameters of dissipation, but dissipation processes were too complex to be generalized for all substances studied. Despite their short half-lives, all pesticides except mevinphos accumulated in soil (up to 656%; endosulfan-alpha), and this accumulation correlated significantly with the hydrophobicity of the substances (r = 0.88). This was interpreted as an aging process, and it was concluded that pesticide aging must be considered relevant also in tropical environments, where it has received very limited attention so far.     

Degradation of pesticides in biobeds: the effect of concentration and pesticide mixtures

Biobeds aim to create an environment whereby any pesticide spills are retained and then degraded, thus reducing the potential for surface or groundwater contamination. Biobeds may receive high concentrations of relatively complex mixtures of pesticides. The effects of concentration and pesticide interaction on degradation rate were therefore investigated. At concentrations up to 20 times the maximum recommended application rate for isoproturon and chlorothalonil, the rate of degradation in topsoil and biomix decreased with increasing concentration. With the exception of isoproturon at concentrations above 11 mg kg(-1), degradation was quicker in biomix (a composted mixture of topsoil, compost, and wheat straw) than in topsoil. One possible explanation for faster isoproturon degradation in topsoil as compared to biomix may be that previous treatments of isoproturon applied to the field soil as part of normal agricultural practices had resulted in proliferation of microbial communities specifically adapted to use isoproturon as an energy source. Such microbial adaptation could enhance the performance of a biobed. Studies with a mixture of isoproturon and chlorothalonil showed that interactions between pesticides are possible. In biomix, the degradation of either isoproturon or chlorothalonil was unaffected by the presence of the other pesticide, whereas in topsoil, isoproturon DT(50) values increased from 18.5 to 71.5 days in the presence of chlorothalonil. These studies suggest that biobeds appear capable of treating high concentrations of more than one pesticide.     

中国农田土壤农药污染现状和防控对策

随着农药长期大量的施用,农药残留及其污染问题日益严重。因此,针对我国农业生产中涉及的三类主要农药除草剂、杀虫剂和杀菌剂的施用情况及其农田土壤中残留特征进行了阐述,对农田土壤因农药残留造成的作物抗性危害、生态环境风险以及人类健康潜在风险等进行了分析,并对农药污染农田土壤的微生物修复、植物修复以及菌根修复的研究状况进行了介绍,在此基础上提出了农田土壤农药污染综合治理的防控对策。     

Degradation and sorption of pirimiphos-methyl in two Nigerian soils

This research is a continuation of a study on the behavior of hydrophobic organic compounds in the environment and describes the simultaneous abiotic degradation and sorption of pirimiphos-methyl (O-2-diethylamino-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl O,O-dimethylphosphorothioate) under controlled conditions in soil/water slurries. A microfiltration-HPLC technique was employed to follow these processes in two well-characterized soils from the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. Rapid sorption of the pesticide occurs during the first 10 min of equilibration and accounted for 37% of the original pirimiphos-methyl in the Rhodic Kandiustalf soil and for 41% of the original concentration in Aquic Ustropept soil. Subsequent slow processes were followed during the remaining 30 days of the experiment. During this time, first-order rate constants for disappearance from solution of pirimiphos-methyl were found to have values of 6.1 x 10(-)(7) and 9.8 x 10(-)(7) s(-)(1) for the Rhodic and Aquic soils, respectively. Similarly, rate constants for production of the product, pyrimidinol, were calculated to be 6.0 x 10(-)(7) and 9.4 x 10(-)(7) s(-)(1) for the Rhodic and Aquic soils, respectively, giving pesticide degradation half-lives of 13 and 8.5 days. Disappearance of the pesticide is discussed in terms of a scheme involving both sorptive uptake by the soil and degradation by hydrolysis in the presence of the soil matrix. The labile sorption capacities for pirimiphos-methyl in the Rhodic and Aquic soils were found to be 0.75 and 0.90 micromol g(-)(1), respectively.     

Degradation of [carboxyl-14C] 2,4-D and [ring-U-14C] 2,4-D in 114 agricultural soils as affected by soil organic carbon content

This study compared the degradation of [carboxyl-¹⁴C] 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (C2,4-D) and [ring-U-¹⁴C] 2,4-D (R2,4-D) in 114 agricultural soils (0–15 cm) as affected by 2,4-D sorption and soil properties (organic carbon content, pH, clay content, carbonate content, cation exchange capacity, total microbial activity). The sample area was confined to Alberta, Canada, located 49–60° north longitude and 110–120° west latitude and soils were grouped by soil organic carbon content (SOC) (0–0.99%, 1–1.99%, 2–2.99%, 3–3.99% and >4% SOC). Degradation rates of C2,4-D and R2,4-D followed first-order kinetics in all soils. Although total microbial activity increased with increasing SOC, degradation rates and total degradation of C2,4-D and R2,4-D decreased with increasing SOC because of increased sorption of 2,4-D by soil and reduced bioavailability of 2,4-D and its metabolites. Rates of R2,4-D degradation were more limited by sorption than rates of C2,4-D degradation, possibly because of greater sorption and formation of bound residues of 2,4-D metabolites relative to the 2,4-D parent molecule. Based on the sorption and degradation parameters quantified, there were two distinct groups of soils, those with less than 1% SOC and those with greater than 1% SOC. Specifically, soils with less than 1% SOC had, on average, 2.4 times smaller soil organic carbon sorption coefficients and 1.4 times smaller 2,4-D half-lives than soils with more than 1% SOC. In regional scale model simulations of pesticide leaching to groundwater, covering many soils, input parameters for each pesticide include a single soil organic carbon sorption coefficient and single half-life value. Our results imply, however, that the approach to these regional scale assessments could be improved by adjusting the values of these two input parameters according to SOC. Specifically, this study indicates that for 2,4-D and Alberta soils containing less than 1% SOC, the 2,4-D pesticide parameters obtained from generic databases should be divided by 2.5 (soil organic carbon sorption coefficient) and 1.5 (half-life value).     

The persistence and degradation of chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos in a cranberry bog

The effect of a spray-tank adjuvant on the persistence, distribution, and degradation of two pesticides, chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos, was studied in a commercial cranberry bog. Pesticides were applied according to label instructions to cranberry plants in paired plot studies. Dislodgeable foliar and whole fruit residues of both pesticides and several degradation products were assessed over a growing season. Residues were also assessed in soil samples collected at fruit harvest. Adjuvant increased both fruit and foliar residues but did not significantly alter the dissipation rate or metabolism of either pesticide. The dissipation of dislodgeable foliar chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos residues followed first-order kinetics, with estimated half-lives of 12.7 and 3.5 d, respectively. All residue levels on harvested fruit were well below the current U.S. EPA tolerances for fresh cranberries. Chlorothalonil (58%) was the major residue in fruit at harvest (76 d post-chlorothalonil application), with 4-hydroxy-2,5,6-trichloroisophthalonitrile and 1,3-dicarbamoyl-2,4,5,6-tetrachlorobenzene accounting for 26% and 6% of the total residues, respectively. Degradation products accounted for 88% of the total chlorothalonil residues in soil at fruit harvest. The products 1,3-dicarbamoyl-2,4,5,6-tetrachlorobenzene, 1-carbamoyl-3-cyano-4-hydroxy-2,5,6-trichlorobenzene, 2,5,6-trichloro-4-methylthioisophthalonitrile, and 2,4,5-trichloroisophthalonitrile have not been previously identified in cranberry bog environments. Chlorpyrifos was detected in fruit at harvest (62 d post-chlorpyrifos application), but no metabolites were found. Chlorpyrifos-oxon and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, however, were detected in earlier fruit samples and in foliage and soil samples.     

Degradation and adsorption of fosthiazate in soil

Adsorption and degradation behavior of a pesticide in soil has a strong effect on its environmental fate as well as efficacy for pest control. Fosthiazate is an organophosphate compound that is currently under development as a nonfumigant nematicide. In this study, we evaluated adsorption and degradation kinetics of fosthiazate in three U.S. soils with different properties. Adsorption of fosthiazate in mineral soil was negligibly weak but appeared to increase with soil organic matter (OM) content. The half-life (T(1/2)) of fosthiazate ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 months in nonsterile soils but was prolonged to 1-3 months after sterilization. Degradation of fosthiazate in soil appeared to be caused by both chemical and microbial transformations. The persistence of fosthiazate generally decreased with increasing soil pH, but increased with increasing soil OM and clay contents. This results suggest that fosthiazate may have an enhanced leaching potential in acidic soils with low OM content, and its efficacy in high pH soils may not last as long as in neutral soils because of faster degradation.     

Persistence and biodegradation of selected organophosphorus insecticides in flooded versus non-flooded soils

Summary The persistence of parathion, methyl parathion and fenitrothion in five tropical soils of varying physicochemical characteristics was compared under flooded and non-flooded conditions. The degradation of all the three insecticides was more rapid under flooded conditions than under non-flooded conditions in four out of five soils. Degradation of these insecticides proceeded by hydrolysis under non-flooded conditions and essentially by nitro group reduction and to a minor extent by hydrolysis under flooded conditions. Kinetic analysis indicated that degradation of the three insecticides followed a first-order reaction irrespective of the soil and water regime. The degradation of these organophosphorus insecticides was accelerated after repeated applications to flooded alluvial soil. Nitro group reduction was the major pathway of degradation for all the three insecticides after the first addition while the rate of hydrolysis increased after each successive addition.