Applying the double knock technique to control Conyza bonariensis

Sequential applications of glyphosate followed by another postemergent herbicide, known as the "double knock" technique, were trialled for their effectiveness in controlling Conyza bonariensis . Combinations of glyphosate with and without 2,4-D followed by paraquat plus diquat, paraquat, or 2,4-D were tested at a range of follow-up application times in two field and two pot experiments. The results showed that paraquat plus diquat or paraquat following glyphosate or glyphosate plus 2,4-D provided highly effective weed control compared to glyphosate alone. The optimum timing for follow-up applications of paraquat or paraquat plus diquat was between 5 and 7 days after the initial glyphosate application. Combined applications of glyphosate and 2,4-D, compared to split applications, were not significantly different. However, following glyphosate application with 2,4-D >1 day later considerably reduced the level of control. This study showed that the double knock technique is highly effective in controlling C. bonariensis and is rapidly becoming an important tool in the management of this problem weed.     

NN-DIALLYL-αα-DICHLOROACETAMIDE AS AN ANTIDOTE FOR EPTC AND OTHER HERBICIDES IN CORN

Summary. The efficacy of NN -diallyl-αα-dichloroacetamide (R-25788) as an antidote for reducing the injury of various herbicides in corn ( Zea mays L.) was tested under controlled conditions in growth rooms. The application of R-25788 to the soil as a pre-plant incorporated treatment to corn significantly reduced the toxicity often out of twenty-two herbicides tested. These ten herbicides were, in order of decreasing effectiveness of the antidote, EPTC, barban, sulfallate, vernolate, molinate, butylate, alachlor, pebulate, linuron and di-allate. In quartz sand nutrient culture, R-25788 was more effective as an antidote for barban applied to the foliage of corn than it was for barban applied to the roots.
Le NN- diallyl-αα-dichloroacétamide comme antidote de I'EPTC et autres herbicides dans le mais .     

Effect of four herbicides and two oils on leaf-cell membrane permeability*†

Leakage of electrolytes from leaf discs of treated Phaseolus Vulgaris L. plants was the main criterion used to study the effect of several chemicals on the permeability of leaf-cell membranes. Paraquat, diquat, dinoseb and oxyfluorfen (2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(Trifluoromethyl) benzene) increased leaf-cell membrane permeability after exposure for 12 h or less. An‘aromatic’oil caused a large increase in permeability at 2–5 min after treatment. Increases in electrolyte release were also correlated with release of soluble amino acids from the leaf discs but the former method was the more sensitive. Increase in cell membrane permeability was always associated with injury symptoms such as appearance of necrotic areas in leaves. Chlorpropham, linuron, sodium azide, glyphosate and 2,4-D at 10^?3M, as well as 1% X-77 surfactant and a non-phytotoxic isoparaffinic oil did not alter leaf-cell permeability at 12 h after treatment. Light was necessary for paraquat and oxyfluorfen to alter leaf cell permeability. Paraquat and oxyfluorfen caused a greater increase in leaf-cell permeability of a soybean mutant with yellow leaves as compared with the normal green leaves. With oxyfluorfen this difference in permeability was greater than with paraquat, and was associated with the appearance of severe necrotic injury symptoms in the yellow mutant; paraquat caused no injury symptoms.     

Less hazardous alternative herbicides to control weeds in immature oil palm

In 2002, the Malaysian government had banned the use of the hazardous herbicide, paraquat. Most growers perceive that paraquat is the most effective herbicide and provides the fastest mode of action to control weeds. An experiment was conducted at MAB Agriculture-Horticulture, Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia, from February 2004 to February 2005 to evaluate the efficacy and ability of the less hazardous herbicides, glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate, as an alternative to the hazardous herbicide, paraquat, in controlling weeds in immature oil palm (<3 years old). The results showed that paraquat needed high rates, 600 and 800 g ha⁻¹, to control weeds effectively. However, lower rates of glufosinate ammonium (200 g ha⁻¹) and glyphosate (400 g ha⁻¹) gave excellent weed control. The results showed that the efficacy of glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate were much better than paraquat. The results also showed that, with no direct contact with the plants, paraquat, glufosinate ammonium, and glyphosate had no adverse effect on the vegetative and generative growth of oil palm in this study. These results proved that the less hazardous herbicides, glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate, could be used as an alternative to paraquat to control weeds in immature oil palm.     

Reduced translocation is involved in resistance to glyphosate and paraquat in Conyza bonariensis and Conyza canadensis from California

Resistance to glyphosate and paraquat has evolved in some populations of Conyza spp. from California, USA. This study evaluated whether herbicide absorption and translocation were involved in the mechanism of resistance to both herbicides. Three lines of each species were used: glyphosate‐paraquat‐susceptible (GPS), glyphosate‐resistant (GR) and glyphosate‐paraquat‐resistant (GPR). Radiolabelled herbicide was applied to a fully expanded leaf, and absorption and movement out of the treated leaf were monitored for up to 24 h for paraquat and 72 h for glyphosate. Plants treated with paraquat were incubated in darkness for the first 16 h and then subjected to light conditions. More glyphosate was absorbed in C. bonariensis (52.9–58.3%) compared with C. canadensis (28.5–37.6%), but no differences in absorption were observed among lines within a species. However, in both species, the GR and GPR lines translocated less glyphosate out of the treated leaf when compared with their respective GPS lines. Paraquat absorption was similar among lines and across species (71.3–77.6%). Only a fraction of paraquat was translocated in the GPR lines (3% or less) when compared with their respective GPS or GR lines (20% or more) in both species. Taken together, these results indicate that reduced translocation is involved in the mechanism of resistance to glyphosate and paraquat in C. bonariensis and C. canadensis.     

Control by glyphosate and its alternatives of glyphosate‐susceptible and glyphosate‐resistant Echinochloa colona in the fallow phase of crop rotations in subtropical Australia

Echinochloa colona is the most common grass weed of summer fallows in the grain‐cropping systems of the subtropical region of Australia. Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide for summer grass control in fallows in this region. The world's first population of glyphosate‐resistant E. colona was confirmed in Australia in 2007 and, since then, >70 populations have been confirmed to be resistant in the subtropical region. The efficacy of alternative herbicides on glyphosate‐susceptible populations was evaluated in three field experiments and on both glyphosate‐susceptible and glyphosate‐resistant populations in two pot experiments. The treatments were knockdown and pre‐emergence herbicides that were applied as a single application (alone or in a mixture) or as part of a sequential application to weeds at different growth stages. Glyphosate at 720 g ai ha^?1 provided good control of small glyphosate‐susceptible plants (pre‐ to early tillering), but was not always effective on larger susceptible plants. Paraquat was effective and the most reliable when applied at 500 g ai ha^?1 on small plants, irrespective of the glyphosate resistance status. The sequential application of glyphosate followed by paraquat provided 96–100% control across all experiments, irrespective of the growth stage, and the addition of metolachlor and metolachlor + atrazine to glyphosate or paraquat significantly reduced subsequent emergence. Herbicide treatments have been identified that provide excellent control of small E. colona plants, irrespective of their glyphosate resistance status. These tactics of knockdown herbicides, sequential applications and pre‐emergence herbicides should be incorporated into an integrated weed management strategy in order to greatly improve E. colona control, reduce seed production by the sprayed survivors and to minimize the risk of the further development of glyphosate resistance.     

Paraquat-resistant biotypes of Hordeum glaucum from zero-tillage wheat

There has been a significant increase in the area seeded to minimum- and zero-tilled crops worldwide over the past two decades. These cropping systems rely primarily on the non-selective herbicides glyphosate or paraquat/diquat to control weeds before seeding the crop. Both glyphosate and paraquat/diquat are regarded as low-risk herbicides in the ability of target weeds to develop resistance to them. Following 10–15 years of once annual applications of paraquat and diquat for weed control in zero-tilled cereals, failure of these herbicides to control Hordeum glaucum Steud. in two separate fields occurred. Dose–response experiments demonstrated high-level resistance to paraquat and diquat in both populations; however, the resistant biotypes are susceptible to other herbicides. This is the first report, worldwide, of paraquat resistance following the use of this herbicide in zero-tillage cropping systems and is therefore a harbinger of future problems in minimum-tillage systems when there is exclusive reliance on a contact herbicide for weed control.     

苏门白酒草对草甘膦等除草剂的多抗性检测及防治药剂筛选

苏门白酒草Conyza sumatrensis是中国华南地区常见的阔叶杂草,在果园和非耕地常造成严重危害。本研究采用整株剂量反应法,明确了采自广东省广州市的苏门白酒草疑似抗性种群 (GZ-R) 对草甘膦、百草枯和敌草快的抗性水平,比对了GZ-R种群和采自广东省清远市的敏感对照种群 (QY-S) 的草甘膦靶标酶基因EPSPS2片段的差异,并测定了灭草松、氯氟吡氧乙酸等5种茎叶处理剂对不同叶龄苏门白酒草的室内防除效果。结果表明:GZ-R种群对草甘膦和百草枯分别产生了中等水平和高水平抗性,并已对敌草快产生交互抗性,3种药剂对GZ-R种群的LD₅₀值分别是对QY-S种群LD₅₀值的7.2、72.3和6.6倍;与QY-S种群相比,GZ-R种群的EPSPS2基因106位由脯氨酸突变为苏氨酸。在灭草松、氯氟吡氧乙酸或2甲4氯钠推荐剂量下,于4~5叶期施药,苏门白酒草死亡率均为100%,但于6~7叶期和10~12叶期施药,苏门白酒草死亡率显著下降至44.4%~91.7%;而在草铵膦或苯嘧磺草胺推荐剂量下,不同叶龄期施药苏门白酒草的死亡率均为100%,因此在植株生长早期可使用草铵膦和苯嘧磺草胺防除已对草甘膦和百草枯等除草剂产生抗性的苏门白酒草。     

Control of Avena fatua and Fagopyrum tataricum with tank mixtures of linuron or linuron + MCPA and sequential applications of linuron, and post-emergence A. fatua herbicides

Linuron (0.21 and 0.28 kg/ha) and linuron + MCPA (0.21+0.56 kg/ha) in a tank mixture with field rates of barban, difenzoquat and flamprop-methyl reduced the phytotoxicity of these herbicides to Avena fatua. When linuron was applied immediately following or 6 days after the A. fatua herbicides no reduction in phytotoxicity to A. fatua occurred, suggesting that the antagonism may be occurring as a result of physical or chemical incompatability when the herbicides are mixed together. The possibility of obtaining broad-spectrum weed control with one trip over the field by applying linuron and one of these wild oat herbicides separately but at the same time using a double-boom, double-tank system deserves evaluation. When linuron was applied in a tank mixture (0.21 and 0.28 kg/ha), immediately after, or 6 days after diclofop-methyl (0.70 kg/ha), there was no reduction of A. fatua control, and wheat tolerance to the tank mixture was good. This tank mixture offers potential for control under field conditions of A. fatua and some broad-leaved weeds in one spray operation. Linuron + MCPA (0.21+0.56 kg/ha) in a tank mixture severely reduced A. fatua control with diclofop-methyl. No loss of phytotoxicity to Fagopyrum tataricum occurred when the A. fatua herbicides tested were tank mixed with linuron or linuron + MCPA. Lutte contre Avena fatua et Fagopyrum tataricum avec des mélanges extemporanés de linuron ou de linuron + MCPA et des applications successives de linuron et d'herbicides de postlevée actifs contre A. fatua     

Quantifying the detrimental effect of airborne dust on herbicide efficacy

One side effect of human activity and global climatic change is more airborne dust. This not only has undesirable effects on human health and the environment, but may also adversely affect many agricultural processes, including herbicide efficacy. This is particularly relevant in parts of the world where dust storms are common and limited rainfall means dust persists on plants for protracted periods. Accordingly, a series of greenhouse dose–response pot experiments was carried out to quantify the effect of a dust concentration of 1,500 µg/m³ on the performance of paraquat, glyphosate, sulfosulfuron and 2,4-D+MCPA. Dust-treated and untreated seedlings of Hordeum spontaneum and Sinapis arvensis were sprayed with sulfosulfuron and 2,4-D+MCPA, respectively, while paraquat and glyphosate were applied to both weed species. The efficacy of glyphosate and paraquat decreased significantly in the presence of dust on both species. Similar results were observed for 2,4-D+MCPA on S. arvensis. In contrast, the efficacy of sulfosulfuron on H. spontaneum was not affected by dust. In the presence of dust, the doses of glyphosate, paraquat and 2,4-D+MCPA required for a 90% effect were enhanced by a factor of 1.9 to 2.6. The negative impact on glyphosate efficacy was more pronounced in S. arvensis than H. spontaneum, while it was similar for paraquat. Future studies should consider the amount, duration and composition of dust as well as its impact on other weeds and herbicides. Potential approaches to overcome the detrimental influence of dust on the performance of herbicides were also suggested for future studies.     

The Principles and Practice of Weed Control for Notillage Soyabean in Southern Brazil Using the Bipyridyl Herbicides

Abstract

An ICI survey of the arable area of southern Brazil in 1971 confirmed the urgent need for some form of conservation tillage system for soyabean wheat primarily to control soil erosion. A practical system of no-tillage soyabean was developed for N. Parana, with weed control based on careful crop residue management and sprays of paraquat mixed with either linuron or metribuzin. The marked superiority of these mixtures over paraquat alone for the control of vigorous annual grasses was noted. This effect is, in part attributed to the capacity of metribuzin and linuron (along with other herbicides) to inhibit photosynthesis, thereby facilitating the translocation of paraquat. Where residual herbicides are not used, diuron at low rates in suitable formulation proved the best additive for paraquat. Problem broadleaved weeds are controlled by adding 2, 4-D to paraquat. Temperature, rainfall, the presence of fallows and the interval between harvest and the next planting, all affect pre-plant weed control for no-till soyabean. A key issue is to prevent excessive stands of weeds. Control within the crop can be provided by shielded, directed sprays of paraquat for which tractor mounted sprayers were developed. Recent discoveries of pre- and post-emergence selective herbicides provide improved and alternative in-crop weed control options. Crop diversification and further general no-till research show promise of further rational, chemical and cultural methods of weed control.     

Simulating evolution of glyphosate resistance in Lolium rigidum II: past, present and future glyphosate use in Australian cropping

Glyphosate is a key component of weed control strategies in Australia and worldwide. Despite widespread and frequent use, evolved resistance to glyphosate is rare. A herbicide resistance model, parameterized for Lolium rigidum has been used to perform a number of simulations to compare predicted rates of evolution of glyphosate resistance under past, present and projected future use strategies. In a 30‐year wheat, lupin, wheat, oilseed rape crop rotation with minimum tillage (100% shallow depth soil disturbance at sowing) and annual use of glyphosate pre‐sowing, L. rigidum control was sustainable with no predicted glyphosate resistance. When the crop establishment system was changed to annual no‐tillage (15% soil disturbance at sowing), glyphosate resistance was predicted in 90% of populations, with resistance becoming apparent after between 10 and 18 years when sowing was delayed. Resistance was predicted in 20% of populations after 25–30 years with early sowing. Risks of glyphosate resistance could be reduced by rotating between no‐tillage and minimum‐tillage establishment systems, or by rotating between glyphosate and paraquat for pre‐sowing weed control. The double knockdown strategy (sequential full rate applications of glyphosate and paraquat) reduced risks of glyphosate and paraquat resistance to <2%. Introduction of glyphosate‐resistant oilseed rape significantly increased predicted risks of glyphosate resistance in no‐tillage systems even when the double knockdown was practised. These increased risks could be offset by high crop sowing rates and weed seed collection at harvest. When no selective herbicides were available in wheat crops, the introduction of glyphosate‐resistant oilseed rape necessitated a return to a minimum‐tillage crop establishment system.     

Effects of paraquat, aminotriazole and glyphosate on cellulose decomposition

Effects of paraquat, activated aminoiriazole am) glyphosate on cellulose decomposition were studied in laboratory experiments. Herbicides were either incorporated in soil or sprayed onto cellulosic substrates which were incubated either on the surface of soil or buried. Paraquat applied directly to the substrates inhibited their decay hut not when applied to the soil. Aminotriazole. incorporated in soil at 500 ppm strongly suppressed decomposition of buried calico but effects varied with surface incubation. The only effects observed at 150 ppm were occasional stimulations of the decay of surface-incubated calico. Glyphosate applied either lo soil or substrate usually stimulated cellulose decay. Numbers of propagules of cellulolytic fungi were decreased by aminoiriazole and glyphosate applied to the soil and by glyphosate and paraquat applied to cellulose, but increased in soil treated with paraquat. In pure culture paraquat was the most, and aminoiriazole the least, toxic to the live test fungi. Numbers of cellulolytic bacteria were decreased in soil treated with paraquat but the other two herbicides either did not affect or stimulated this group. Effets du paraquat, de I'aminotriazole active et du glyphosate sur la décomposition de la cellulose. Les effets du paraquat, de I'aminotriazole activé et du glyphosate sur la décomposition de la cellulose ont étéétudiés dans des expériences de laboratoires. Les herbicides ont été appliqués de deux manières: incorporés dans le sol ou pulverises sur des substratscellulosiques, lesquelsonl été mis en incubation a deux niveaux; à la surface du sol et dans le sol. Le paraquat appliquè directement sur les substrats a empêché leur décomposition, mais non dans le cas ou ils ont été appliqués sur le sol. L'aminolriazo le incorporé a 500 ppm dans le sol a fortement relenti la decomposition du calicot enterre, mais les effets ont été variables pour l'incubation en surface, Les seuls effets observés à 150 ppm ont été des accélérations occasiormelles de la décomposition du calicol mis en incubation en surface. Le glyphosatc appliqué aussi bien au sol qu'au substrat, a généra temcnl aecélere la décomposition de la cellulose. Le nombre de propagules de champignons cellulolytiques a été diminué par l'aminolriazole et le glyphosale apportés par le sol et par le glyphosate el le paraquat appliqués sur la cellulose, mais il a augmenté dans le sol traiteau paraquat. En culture pure, le paraquat s'est révélér le plus toxique et l'aminotriazole le moins toxique dans cinq tests fungiques, Le nombre des bacléries cellulolytiques a été réduit dans le sol traité avec le paraquat, mais les deux autres herbi cides n'ont ni affecté ni slimulé ce groupe. Wirkungen von Paraquat. Aminotriazol und Glyphosate auf den Zelluloseabbau In Laborversuchen wurde die Wirkung von Paraquat, markiertem Aminotriazol und Glyphosate auf den Zelluloseabbau untersucht. Die Herbizide wurden sowohl in den Boden eingcarbeitet als auch auf Zelluioscsubsirate gesprtzt. welche entweder auf der Obernache des Bodens oder un Boden vergraben bebrütet wurden Paraquat direkt auf die Substrate gespritzt hemmte ihre Zersctzung, dies trat nicht ein bei der Behandlung des Bodens. Aminotriazol in einer Konzenlration von 500 ppm in Boden eingemischt, unterdrüekte sehr slark die Zersetzung von vergrabenem Baumwollsr off (Kaliko), jedoch schwanklen die Wirkungen bei der Obertlächenvariante. Die einzigen Wirkungen. die bei 150 ppm beobachtet wurden, war en gelegentliche Förderungen der Zersetzung bei oberflächlich bebrütetem Baumwollstoff (Kaliko). Glyphosate forderle im ailgemeinen die Zellulosezersetzung sowohl im Boden als auch auf dem Substral. Die Zahl der Sporen zellolytischer Pilze wrurde vermindert durch Aminotriazol und Glyphosate bei Bodenbehandlung und durch Glyphosale und Paraquat bei direkter Spritzung der Zellulose. Eine Zunahme war festzuslellen. bei Paraquat behandeltem Boden Auf 5 Reinkulturen von Testpilzen wirkte Paraquat am meisten, Aminotriazol am wenigslen toxisch. Die Zahl zelluloscabbauender Bakterién nahm bei Paraquat behandeltem Boden ab, Bei den beiden anderen Herbiziden war keine Wirkung festzustellen     

Influence of field-applied linuron and paraquat on the microflora of an organic soil

In a field experiment on an organic soil, a pre-emergence application of paraquat at 2–24 kg a.i. (active ingredient)/ha was made to a plot on which onions and lettuce were grown; and similar broadcast applications of linuron, both with and without carbofuran, at two field rates, to plots on which carrots were grown. Paraquat generally increased the bacterial and actinomycetal populations while linuron inhibited the same but enhanced the numbers of fungal propagules, although it decreased the proportion of soil penicillia in the population. The overall effect of linuron was not changed by the admixture of carbofuran. However, the changes in microbial populations by either herbicides were not substantial enough to make gross or lasting differences in levels of available N and P, and in the CO₂ evolution rate.     

Interactions between barban and benzoylprop etbyl, flamprop metbyl or flamprop isopropyl applied at two growtb stages for wild oat control in cereals

Barban was combined with benzoylprop ethyl, flamprop methyl, or flamprop isopropyl, and the eflects of the combinations on wild oat control and crop yield were assessed, tn greenhouse experiments, the interaction in all three combinations was synergistic, following application at the 2- or 4-leaf stage of wild oats. Under field conditions, combinations of barban + benzoylprop ethyl applied at the 2- or 4-leaf stage of wild oats were as eflective for wild oat control and wheat yield response as barban at 028 kg/ha applied at the 2-leaf or benzoylprop ethyl at 14 kg/ha applied at the 4-leaf stage of wild oats. Mixtures of barban + flamprop methyl applied at the 2- or 4-leaf stage of wild oats provided excellent wild oat control and wheat yield increases. Mixtures of barban + flamprop isopropyl applied at the 2- or 4-leaf stage of wild oats provided comparable wild oat control and barley yield increases to barban (028 kg/ha) applied at the 2-leaf or flamprop isopropyl (14 kg/ha) applied at the 4-leaf stage of wild oats.     

Multiple resistance across glufosinate,glyphosate, paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides in an Eleusine indica population

An Eleusine indica population was previously reported as the first global case of field‐evolved glufosinate resistance. This study re‐examines glufosinate resistance and investigates multiple resistance to other herbicides in the population. Dose–response experiments with glufosinate showed that the resistant population is 5‐fold and 14‐fold resistant relative to the susceptible population, based on GR₅₀ and LD₅₀ R/S ratio respectively. The selected glufosinate‐resistant subpopulation also displayed a high‐level resistance to glyphosate, with the respective GR₅₀ and LD₅₀ R/S ratios being 12‐ and 144‐fold. In addition, the subpopulation also displayed a level of resistance to paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides fluazifop‐P‐butyl, haloxyfop‐P‐methyl and butroxydim. ACCase gene sequencing revealed that the Trp‐2027‐Cys mutation is likely responsible for resistance to the ACCase inhibitors examined. Here, we confirm glufosinate resistance and importantly, we find very high‐level glyphosate resistance, as well as resistance to paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides. This is the first confirmed report of a weed species that evolved multiple resistance across all the three non‐selective global herbicides, glufosinate, glyphosate and paraquat.     

Kinetics of linuron and metribuzin degradation in soil

The disappearance of linuron and metribuzin was studied during laboratory incubation of soil samples which had been taken from several depths at three sites, and treated with the pesticides. Temperature and water content of the soils were varied. There was a tendency for the rate of loss to be slower in soil taken from deeper horizons than in surface soil but the differences were not large. In only ten out of forty experiments did the value 1 for the apparent order of reaction fall within 95% confidence limits. In the remaining experiments the apparent reaction order was greater than 1 with eight values higher than 4. For one soil, the reaction order for linuron was markedly lower for incubation at 22°C compared with incubations at 10°C. The results could be explained on the basis that the systems were complex, involving consecutive or competing reactions. An alternative possibility is that the apparent complexities were artifacts brought about by the inherent limitations of the laboratory incubation system.     

Effects of herbicide-fertiliser interactions on nitrogen and phosphorus transformations and herbicide persistence in soil

The effects of seven herbicides, alone or combined with a commercial compound fertiliser, on nitrogen and phosphorus transformations in soil, were investigated in the laboratory. No significant effect was observed without the fertiliser. When the fertiliser (N:P:K ratio 20:14:14) was applied (2 gkg^?1 of soil), asulam markedly reduced nitrification, while increasing the mineralisation of nitrogen; chloridazon, glyphosate, isoproturon and paraquat all prevented the reduction in available phosphate that occurred in the control soil in the first 2 weeks. The rates of degradation of dalapon and isoproturon were greatly reduced in fertilised soil. The importance of these results is discussed in the context of the requirements of registration authorities.     

THE EFFECT OF REPEATED FIELD APPLICATIONS OF FOUR HERBICIDES ON THE EVOLUTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND MINERALIZATION OF NITROGEN IN SOIL

The effect of repeated annual applications over 7-8 years of MCPA, triallate, simazine and linuron to field plots on the evolution of CO₂ and mineralization of nitrogen in soil samples incubated in the laboratory is described. The plots were either cropped and treated with standard doses, or uncropped and sprayed with doses 3-4 times above the level used in agricultural practice. While the applications of MCPA and tri-allate did not exert any inhibitory effects in soils from the uncropped plots those of simazine and linuron led to a lowering in CO₂ output in several instances and in mineral N on infrequent occasions. These effects are assumed to be the result of a difference in the content of easily-degradable organic matter between the treated plots and the controls. A direct anti-microbial action of the two herbicides is not very probable because in laboratory experiments with simazine up to 512 ppm the output of CO₂ and the mineralization of N was not affected while linuron at 500 ppm gave only a minor depression in CO₂ evolution. Effects on soil fertility are unknown but seem unlikely in view of the small extent and infrequency of the reductions observed. On the cropped plots the MCPA and tri-allate treatment showed no effects. With linuron and simazine a significant lowering in respiration and mineralization of N occurred on single occasions only, during a 5-year period.     

Effects of some herbicides on soil enzyme activities

Effects of glyphosate, paraquat, trifluralin and atrazine on activities of dehydrogenase, phosphatase and urease in one soil were measured. Only glyphosate at 21.6 kg/ha was found to inhibit the enzyme activities and generally the results were not statistically significant. Enzyme activity associated with micro-organisms proliferating in soil supplemented with lucerne meal was similarly not affected by the herbicides. Interpretation of results from enzyme activity measurements in soils treated with herbicides is discussed. It is proposed that effects of natural stress can be used to judge the relative importance of herbicide induced change.