Relation between volatility rating and composition of phenoxy herbicide ester formulations

A CIPAC/AOAC test with tomato plants is used to specify the volatility ratings of herbicide ester formulations. This work compares the tomato plant test with an alternative chemical one. The concentrations of esters and the effective molecular weight and density of each formulation were used with the ester vapour pressures to calculate its herbicide vapour pressure as complete, and evaporated formulations. The range was from 28.8 mPa (at 257deg;C) for a mixture of 2,4–D esters to 0–07 mPa (at 25°C) for a 2,4,5–T-(iso-octyl) formulation, as complete formulations, and 35-5 and 0–16 mPa (at 25°C) as evaporated ones. A value of 0–6 mPa (at 25°C) was selected on the basis of the tomato plant test as the cut-off area for low-volatile esters and is recommended to be included in specifications for herbicide esters. Formulations with a herbicide vapour pressure above 3.3 mPa (at 25°C) are high-volatile ones according to the tomato plant test, while between 0–6–3.3 mPa (at 25°C) is a borderline region where the test gives mixed results. Levels of 2,4–D-ethyl and methyl were added to pure 2–ethylhexyl esters of 2,4–D and a 2,4,5–T-(iso-octyl) formulation to find what level of contamination would change the rating of these esters from low to high volatile. Formulations of 2,4–D-(iso-octyl) should not contain more than 11 g litre^?1 2,4–D as methyl ester or 2.0 g litre^?1 2,4–D as ethyl ester. Formulations of 2,4,5–T-(iso-octyl) should not contain more than 26 g litre^?1 2,4–D as methyl ester or 4.7g litre^?1 2,4–D as ethyl ester.     

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DALAPON IN CYNODON DACTYLON (L.) PERS.*

Summary. Studies on the physiological effects of dalapon in Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. were carried out. Field and glasshouse experiments showed that dalapon is freely translocated in the aerial organs and from these to the rhizomes. No transformation of the herbicide was detected during 72 h following application. In rhizomes as well as in stolons, dalapon caused growth inhibition and necrosis of buds while root growth was apparently not affected. This differential susceptibility was confirmed by culturing node explants in nutrient solution containing dalapon. Although dalapon killed aerial organs, most rhizomes were capable of recovery even when a high dose was applied. These results are discussed. Effets physiologiqius du dalapon sur Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.     

Dissipation of imazapyr, flumetsulam and thifensulfuron in soil

The degradation of imazapyr, flumetsulam and thifensulfuron applied at 500.40 and 30 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha^-1, respectively, to silt loam soil was studied under laboratory and field conditions. Herbicide residues were analysed by a lentil ( Lens culinarits L.) bioassay. Results showed that temperature had a significant effect on herbicide degradation, whereas the impact of soil organic matter ami pH were less well defined. Half-lives for imazapyr, flumetsulam and thifensulfuron in soil samples from the 0-5 cm layer (6.4% organic carbon) at 15 °C were 125, 88 and 5.4 days, respectively, and 69, 30 and 3.9 days at 30°C. In soil sampled from the 15-20 cm layer (3.5% organic carbon) half-lives were 155. 70 and 6.4 days, respectively, at 15 °C and 77, 24 and 4.8 days at 30 °C, A field experiment investigated the degradation and teaching of each herbicide under two precipitation regimes [natural precipitation (208 mm), and natural precipitation plus 75 mm irrigation (283 mm) over 4 months to a soil depth of 25 cm. Thifensulfuron degraded rapidly, whereas residues of flumetsulam and imazapyr leached below 25 cm in both the low-and high-precipitasion treatments after 4 months. Significant imazapyr residues were still present in the soil to 25 cm depth after 3 months, A multi-component model for herbicide dissipation was developed and evaluated using data from the laboratory and field experiments.     

FACTORS AFFECTING PERSISTENCE AND INACTIVATION OF DIQUAT AND PARAQUAT

Summary. The adsorption of diquat cation was found to be 0.3, 2.0–2.5 and 80–100 mg/g on a sandy loam soil, Grade Hydrite 10 Georgia kaolinite and National Standard Bentonite, respectively. Bentonite (113 lb/surface ac) applied to plastic pools previously treated with 1 ppm paraquat reduced the concentration of paraquat to less than 0–05 ppm within 24 hr of application. Only bentonite appeared to hold either diquat or paraquat in a form unavailable to wheat. Appreciable uptake by wheat from soil treated with diquat or paraquat (16 lb/ac pre-emergence) occurred only in soil or sand in which the herbicide leached below the 05 in. zone. A 12 hr dark period following foliage application did not appear to enhance movement of either herbicide in wheat. Loss of radioactivity was observed when diquat or paraquat was exposed to ultraviolet light (2537 Å).
Facteurs agissant sur la persistence et l'inactivation du diquat et du paraquat     

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     

Processes affecting herbicide action in soil

The main processes which affect herbicide action in soil are considered to be the extent to which the herbicide is adsorbed by soil particles, the rate of absorption of the herbicide solution by plant roots and the rate at which the herbicide is lost from the soil by decomposition, evaporation or leaching. An attempt is made to show how these factors are interrelated and the possible use of mathematical models to optimise the performance of herbicides is briefly discussed.     

Persistence of pyrazosulfuron in rice-field and laboratory soil under Indian tropical conditions

BACKGROUND: Pyrazosulfuron ethyl, a new rice herbicide belonging to the sulfonylurea group, has recently been registered in India for weed control in rice crops. Many field experiments revealed the bioefficacy of this herbicide; however, no information is available on the persistence of this herbicide in paddy soil under Indian tropical conditions. Therefore, a field experiment was undertaken to investigate the fate of pyrazosulfuron ethyl in soil and water of rice fields. Persistence studies were also carried out under laboratory conditions in sterile and non‐sterile soil to evaluate the microbial contribution to degradation. RESULTS: High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of pyrazosulfuron ethyl gave a single sharp peak at 3.41 min. The instrument detection limit (IDL) for pyrazosulfuron ethyl by HPLC was 0.1 µg mL^?1, with a sensitivity of 2 ng. The estimated method detection limit (EMDL) was 0.001 µg mL^?1 and 0.002 µg g^?1 for water and soil respectively. Two applications at an interval of 10 days gave good weed control. The herbicide residues dissipated faster in water than in soil. In the present study, with a field‐soil pH of 8.2 and an organic matter content of 0.5%, the pyrazosulfuron ethyl residues dissipated with a half‐life of 5.4 and 0.9 days in soil and water respectively. Dissipation followed first‐order kinetics. Under laboratory conditions, degradation of pyrazosulfuron ethyl was faster in non‐sterile soil (t_1/2 = 9.7 days) than in sterile soil (t_1/2 = 16.9 days). CONCLUSION: Pyrazosulfuron ethyl is a short‐lived molecule, and it dissipated rapidly in field soil and water. The faster degradation of pyrazosulfuron in non‐sterile soil than in sterile soil indicated microbial degradation of this herbicide. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HERBICIDAL EFFECT OF 2,6-DICHLOROBENZONITRILE AND ITS PERSISTENCE IN THE SOIL

Summary. A series of experiments with 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile is described. It is demonstrated that 2,6-DBN is highly phytotoxic when applied as a soil drench or preemergence spray in the greenhouse, but measurement of crop and weed responses in the field, accompanied by quantitative assessment of the chemical residues in the soil, indicates that the persistence of 2,6-DBN following surface application is short under both tropical and temperate (winter) conditions. It is, however, extended from a few days to several weeks if the chemical is incorporated into the soil immediately after application. Under tropical conditions the effect of 4 lb/ac applied to the surface is roughly equated to 2 lb/ac immediately watered-in, 1.5 lb/ac immediately raked-in, or 1 lb/ac both watered- and raked-in, and a delay of 4 hours between application and incorporation is shown to reduce the effectiveness of the chemical by about half. The lack of persistence of 2,6-DBN when applied to the soil surface, and the modifying influence of soil incorporation and watering is attributed to its high vapour pressure (5 × I0⁻⁴ mm Hg at 20° C) and its relatively low solubility in water (20 ppm at 25° C).
Le rapporl entre l'activité herbicide du 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile et sa persistance dans le sol     

Residues of dalapon and TCA in sediments and irrigation water

When dalapon and TCA are used for the management of aquatic weeds in irrigation distribution systems, they are often applied to established stands of Typha spp. and Phragmites australis in autumn or early winter, after draining water from the system. It has been assumed that the herbicides would dissipate from the sediments within 6 weeks, so that water supplies could be safely restored. In field experiments the decay of dalapon and TCA in sediments followed the classical pattern for a microbially mediated process, with a slow lag-phase, followed by a rapid phase of decline, but not to completion. Particularly for TCA, there was a final slow phase in which residues were sufficient to contaminate eluting water at concentrations much greater than the legally prescribed tolerance, even when the interval between herbicide treatment and water re-supply was more than 6 weeks. Although the overall pattern of dissipation in the sediment was similar for the two herbicides, concentrations of TCA were higher than those of dalapon in the elution water, probably reflecting differences in herbicide mobility and elution efficiency. Dye tracers were used in three field experiments to investigate the efficiency of herbicide elution and carryover of contaminated water when canals were filled to capacity, drained and refilled. Together with the rate of dissipation from sediments, canal topography and draining efficiency determined the safety of the elution process in removing surplus residues before re-supply of water for irrigation. In large-scale management operations, where the dissipation interval was only 17-19 days, the TCA was eluted from the sediment into flowing water in proportion to the square root of time, giving average concentrations over 3 days of discharge of more than 0.4gm^?3. Ideally, the interval between spraying and water re-supply should be extended beyond 6 weeks. Alternatively, herbicide use should be restricted, or provision made for elution of surplus residues and disposal of contaminated water to waste, or onto tolerant crops or fallow land.     

The degradation of the herbicide benzoylprop-ethyl following its application to wheat

The herbicide benzoylprop-ethyl [SUFFIX,^a ethyl (±)-2-(N-benzoyl-N-3,4-di-chloroanilino) propionate] has been applied in a radiolabelled form to spring wheat and winter wheat growing both indoors and outdoors. During the application the compound also fell onto the soil. The plants and corresponding soils were examined at harvest at 71-98 days from treatment. Conversion of the herbicide occurred in plants and soil predominantly by a hydrolytic reaction to form benzoylprop^b followed in plants by its conjugation with sugars. Small amounts of N-benzoyl-3,4-dichloroaniline and benzoic acid were also detected in plants. There was no evidence for the presence of 3,4-dichloroaniline in the crops or soils nor was there evidence for 3,4,3′,4′-tetra-chloroazobenzene which has been implicated as a degradation product of some 3,4-dichloroaniline herbicides in soils. Residues on plants were greatest in the straw and consisted mainly of benzoylprop-ethyl and benzoylprop in free and conjugated forms. There was no evidence for appreciable movement of the compound within the plant from the treated foliage. Residues were particularly low in the grain and were not detected in the crop grown outdoors (limit of detectability 0.01 mg/kg). Residues in the soils were mainly in the 0-7.5 cm layer and there was no evidence for leaching below 15 cm.     

Reduced metribuzin pollution with phosphatidylcholine-clay formulations

BACKGROUND: Metribuzin is a widely used herbicide that has been identified as a groundwater contaminant. In this study, slow‐release formulations of metribuzin were designed by encapsulating the active ingredient in phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles and adsorbing the vesicles onto montmorillonite. RESULTS: The maximum active ingredient content in the slow‐release formulations was 246 g kg^?1. Infrared spectroscopy results revealed that the hydrophobic interactions between metribuzin and the alkyl chains on PC were necessary for encapsulation. In addition, water bridges connecting the herbicide and the PC headgroup enhanced the solubility of metribuzin in PC. Adsorption experiments in soils were performed to evaluate the relationship between sorption and leaching. Funnel experiments in a sandy soil revealed that the herbicide was not irreversibly retained in the formulation matrix. In soil column experiments, PC–clay formulations enhanced herbicide accumulation and biological activity in the top soil layer relative to a commercial formulation. PC–clay formulations also reduced the dissipation of metribuzin by a factor of 1.6–2.5. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the recommended dose of metribuzin can be achieved by employing PC–clay formulations, which reduces the environmental risk associated with herbicide applications. Moreover, PC and montmorillonite are non‐toxic and do not negatively affect the environment. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

The influence of additives on the penetration of foliar applied growth regulator herbicides

The possibilities are demonstrated of increasing the activity of foliar applied growth regulator herbicides by mixing them with chemicals which injure the cuticle or epidermis. S, S, S-Tributyl phosphorotrithioate (“DEF”) increases the effects of picloram, 2,4,5-T and mecoprop salts on four woody species, privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk.), poplar (× Populus gelrica Ait.), bluegum (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and guava (Psidium guajava L.). Mixtures with esters of the herbicides are not synergistic and often antagonistic. DEF, tributyl phosphorotrithioite, a number of alkyl and aryl phosphates and phosphites and potassium ethyl xanthate enhance the phytotoxicity of picloram solution on dwarf bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Mixtures of picloram with tributyl phosphorotrithioite, tributyl phosphate, mixed acid butyl phosphates, trimethyl phosphate and mixed isomers of tritolyl phosphate are synergistic when applied to guava foliage. Tributyl phosphate and mixed acid butyl phosphates interact similarly with picloram on privet and tributyl phosphate increases the effects of foliar applied mecoprop salt on guava. The mode of action of the additives is not fully understood but there is evidence that DEF facilitates the entry of water soluble growth regulator herbicides into leaves and has little effect on the rate at which the herbicides move through the plant. Tributyl phosphate and mixed acid butyl phosphates are suggested for practical use in herbicide formulations to control woody plants, as they are relatively cheap and non-toxic.     

The relative movement and persistence in soil of chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl and triasulfuron

Summary. Adsorption and degradation rates of triasulfuron in 8 different soils were negatively correlated with soil pH and were generally lower in subsoils than in soils from the plough layer. The half-life at 20°C varied from 33 days in a top soil at pH 5·8 to 120 days in a subsoil at pH 7·4. Adsorption distribution coefficients in these two soils were 0·55 and 0·19, respectively. Movement and persistence of residues of chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron and metsulfuron-methyl were compared in a field experiment prepared in spring 1987. Triasulfuron was less mobile in the soil than the other two compounds. Residues of all three herbicides were largely confined to the upper 40–50 cm soil 148 days after application. With an initial dose of 32 g ha⁻¹, residues in the surface soil layers were sufficient to affect growth of lettuce and sugar-beet sown approximately one year after application. Laboratory adsorption and degradation data were used with appropriate weather data in a computer model of herbicide transport in soil. The model gave good predictions of total soil residues during the first five months following application, and also predicted successfully the maximum depth of penetration of the herbicides into the soil during this period. However, more herbicide was retained close to the soil surface than was predicted by the model. The model predicted extensive movement of the herbicides in the soil during winter but did not predict that residues sufficient to affect crop growth could be present in the upper 15–20 cm soil after one year.     

Improvement of carpet grass (Axonopus affinis Chase) pasture by fertilization and oversowing with the aid of selective herbicides

An experiment was done to determine the effect of spring and autumn application of asulam and dalapon, nitrogen fertilizer and oversown white clover (Trifolium repens L.) on the productivity of subtropical pasture dominated by carpet grass (Axonopus affinis Chase). Assessments were made of pasture yield, botanical composition, weed invasion and recolonization by pasture species during the 12-month period following herbicide application. Both herbicides decreased the yield of carpet grass and increased that of the more productive paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.) except after autumn application when the yield of paspalum was greatly reduced by dalapon. White clover became established only on plots treated with herbicide and only after autumn application. Clover yields were greatest on plots treated with dalapon. Asulam was considered to be the most suitable herbicide for altering the balance between carpet grass and paspalum because dalapon initially reduced paspalum yield after autumn application and delayed recovery of total pasture. In addition, dalapon permitted greater invasion by broadleaf weeds. This work showed that herbicides have a potential role for speeding up botanical changes in unproductive carpet grass pasture and further refinement of the technique might provide a useful tool for increasing pasture productivity.     

Persistence of imazamethabenz-methyl in soils after autumn and spring applications to wheat

Imazathabenz-methyl dissipated rapidly in sandy and sandy loam field soils in Nova Scotia. Canada, seeded to wheat ( Triticum aestivam L.).The time to 50% loss of herbicide residues in the 0-10 cm soil zone was about 3-4 weeks after October applications and about 2.5 weeks after June ones. After October applications, there was further loss of >60% of the remaining parent herbicide during the winter and early spring despite periods of prolonged snow cover and freezing, or near freezing, soil temperatures. After October applications, imazamethabenz-methyl residues in May-collected samples from the 10-20 and 20-30 cm soil zones ranged from 40% to 80% and from 15% to 40%, respectively of those extracted from the 0-10 cm zone over four sites. Precipitation in the month after October applications ranged from 105 to 180 mm. which suggests leaching may play an important role in dissipation at times of the year when precipitation greatly exceeds evapotranspiration. Levels of the phytoioxic free acid ranged from 15% to 35% of the parent herbicide in selected samples. These residues had no effect on spring wheat replacement crops. The effect of the herbicide on replacement crops may also be influenced by the soil pH. A laboratory study demonstrated that as soil pH increased from 4.1 to 6.5. degradation of imazamethabenz-methyl increased with a corresponding increase in free acid formation.     

EXPERIMENTS WITH GRANULES OF DICHLOBENIL UNDER GLASSHOUSE CONDITIONS

Summary. Experiments with granular dichlobenil have been carried out under glasshouse conditions, in order to estimate the area of contamination near the surface and the leaching beneath by the toxicant from individual granules. Special techniques using a restricted range of granule size and ryegrass as indicator plant have been developed.
The area of contamination produced by grouping several granules together or by granules containing different concentrations of toxicant, increased generally with, but not in proportion to, the amount of toxicant applied. The area of contamination and the depth of leaching were smaller in moist soil than in drier soil, due possibly to the transport and action of dichlobenil in the vapour state. When granules were placed on sub-irrigated soil, the maximum area of contamination was reached after 6 days for 7.5% granules, and after 12 days for 15% and 25% granules; after 19 days, the area decreased markedly, especially in the case of 7.5% granules. Soil composition, especially organic matter content, affected strongly the area of contamination near the surface and the leaching beneath.
The importance of uniform distribution of granules in field practice is stressed in conclusion.
Migration dans le sol du dichlobénil appliqué sous forme de granules     

The degradation of the herbicide benzoylprop ethyl on the foliage of cereal seedlings

The breakdown of the herbicide benzoylprop ethyl [SUFFIX, ethyl N-benzoyl-N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-aminopropionate] has been examined in wheat, oat, and barley seedlings after application of ¹⁴C-labeled herbicide to the foliage.Within 15 days of the application the route and rate of the breakdown were similar in the plants of all three species. Some of the herbicide was present in the plants in a complexed form which could be extracted from the plant with organic solvents and converted back into the herbicide on treatment with hot acid. Evidence was obtained for hydrolysis of the herbicide in the plant to give its des-ethyl analog which conjugated with plant sugars. There was some evidence for a small degree of degradation of benzoylprop ethyl by debenzoylation to give products which also conjugated or complexed.There was no evidence for the formation of 3,4-dichloroaniline in the plants.     

Preparation of controlled-release formulations of 14C-labelled thiobencarb herbicide and study of their environmental behaviour

Controlled-release formulations of ¹⁴C-labelled thiobencarb herbicide were prepared in calcium alginate using kaolin as an inexpensive filler. The rates of release of the herbicide from these and from a commercial granular formulation were studied in static distilled water contained in open and closed vessels. The rate of release of the herbicide was much higher from the commercial formulation than from the controlled-release formulations. Increasing the proportion of kaolin to calcium alginate in controlled-release formulations reduced the rate of release of the herbicide. There was a significant loss of thiobencarb-related radioactivity from the water solution when the vessels containing the solutions were left uncovered and exposed to light. The loss of the herbicide seemed to be due to degradation and evaporation.     

Degradation of triasulfuron in soil under laboratory conditions

Degradation of triasulfuron in non-autoclaved and autoclaved soil incubated at different temperatures and moisture contents was evaluated in the laboratory using a maize root growth bioassay. Disappearance of triasulfuron was faster in non-autoclaved than in autoclaved soil, indicating the importance of microorganisms in the breakdown process. Degradation of the herbicide was faster at 30°C than at 10°C, with half-lives of 11–13 days at 30°C and 30–79 days at 10°C. Degradation of the herbicide was influenced more by temperature than by variation in soil moisture. Disappearance of the herbicide was rapid in the non-autoclaved soil at 30°C during the initial 30 days of incubation, but low levels of residues persisted for up to 90 days. A second application of the herbicide, to soil in which an initial dose of triasulfuron had degraded, disappeared at the same rate as herbicide added to previously untreated soil, indicating that there was no enhancement of degradation with repeated application of herbicide. Dégradation du triasulfuron dans le sol en conditions de laboratoire La dégradation du triasulfuron dans des sols non autoclavés et autoclavés, incubés à des températures et à des teneurs en humidité différentes, a étéévaluée au laboratoire en utilisant un bio essai sur la croissance d'une racine de maïs. La disparition du triasulfuron a été plus rapide en sol non autoclavé qu'en sol autoclavé, soulignant l'importance des microorganismes dans le processus de dégradation. La dégradation de l'herbicide a été plus rapide à 30°C qu'à 10°C avec des demi-vies respectives de 11–13 jours et de 30–79 jours. La dégradation de l'herbicide a été plus influencée par la température que par les variations d'humidité du sol. La disparition de l'herbicide a été rapide dans le sol non autoclavéà 30°C pendant les 30 premiers jours d'incubation, mais de faibles résidus persistaient au delà de 90 jours. Une seconde application d'herbicide sur un sol dans lequel une dose initiate de triasulfuron avait été dégradée, a disparu de la même façon qu'une dose appliquée sur un sol non traitd, montrant qu'il n'y avait pas d'augmentation de la dégradation à la suite d'une répétition d'application. Abbau von Triasulfuron im Boden unter Laborbedingungen Der Abbau von Triasulfuron in nicht sterilisiertem und sterilisiertem Boden bei verschiedener Temperatur und Bodenfeuchte wurde mit einem Maiswurzel-Wachstumstest untersucht. Die Menge des Triasulfurons nahm im nicht-sterilisierten Boden schneller ab als im sterilisierten, was auf mikrobiellen Abbau hinweist. Das Herbizid wurde bei 30 °C mit einer Halbwertszeit von 11 bis 13 Tagen schneller abgebaut als bei 10 °C mit einer von 30 bis 79 Tagen. Der Abbau wurde durch die Temperatur stärker beeinflußt als durch Änderung der Bodenfeuchte. Das Herbizid unterlag in den ersten 30 Tagen bei 30 °C im nichtsterilisierten Boden einem schnellen Abbau, doch geringe Rückstände wurden bis zu 90 Tagen gefunden. Bei einer zweiten Applikation des Herbizids auf Boden, in dem schon eine erste Dosis von Triasulfuron abgebaut worden war, nahm der Wirkstoff im selben Maße wie zuvor ab, so daß bei wiederholter Anwendung nicht mit einem verstärkten Abbau gerechnet werden kann.     

Herbicidal control of Chromolaena odorata in oil palm

A range of herbicides was evaluated for the control of Chromolaena odorata (L.) K & R in oil palm at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research. Glufosinate-ammonium quickly dessicated treated foliage but weed plants soon recovered. Glyphosate-isopropylamine and glyphosate-trimesium produced similar results, both formulations controlling treated vegetation and suppressing regrowth for up to 12 weeks after treatment. Triclopyr and hexazinone + diuron were effective for up to 20 WAT, whereas imazapyr controlled regrowth for up to 36 WAT. Regrowth of the weed from its roots was better suppressed when the foliage was left undisturbed for 4–7 days after herbicide treatment. Repeated annual applications of triclopyr, hexazinone + diuron, the two formulations of glyphosate or imazapyr progressively reduced the biomass of C . odorata in the plots. In particular, imazapyr effectively eliminated the weed after the second application. Taking crop tolerance into consideration, the most promising herbicide treatments were glyphosate at 2.4 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ and low rates (0.5 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ or less) of imazapyr.