DEGRADATION OF DICAMBA IN PRAIRIE SOILS

Summary. Electron-capture gas chromatography was used to detect dicamba residues in three prairie soils, and the breakdown under different moisture conditions was studied. At rates equivalent to 1·1 kg/ha degradation was rapid in all soils at 25°C and at moisture levels in excess of the wilting point, with over 50% of the applied dicamba being dissipated in 2 weeks. Negligible breakdown occurred in the sterile soils, over a 4–week period, indicating that microbial decomposition could be an important factor contributing to dicamba degradation.
The persistence of dicamba was investigated under field conditions at three locations using small plots. Applications equivalent to 1·1 kg/ha were made in October 1971 for analysis in May 1972, and in May 1972 for analysis in August 1972. At both sampling dates no dicamha residues were detected in any of the treatments at the 0–5, 5–10 or 10–15 cm soil levels.
Degradation du dicamba dans les sots de prairies     

THE PERSISTENCE OF SIMAZINE APPLIED ANNUALLY IN THE PROLONGED ABSENCE OF SOIL CULTIVATION

Summary. Successive bioassays during 1966 and 1967 showed that simazine degradation reached 80% in 11 and 22i weeks, respectively, in soil from the 0–2 in. horizon of a gooseberry experiment to which simazine had been applied annually in the absence of soil cultivation from 1960. Where an annual farmyard-manure mulch was also applied, the same loss of residual activity was reached in 10 and 20 weeks. This mulch initially reduced the simazine level rapidly compared to that of unmulched soil, but the subsequent rates of degradation were similar. The rate of simazine degradation depended more on environmental conditions each year than on soil type. The results indicate that an annual simazine degradation in excess of 80% can be expected in Loughgall soils in conditions of non-tillage. Even if simazine applications continued indefinitely at an annual dose of 20 Ib/ac–the current dose in the gooseberry experiment–a large residue accumulation could not occur with or without a mulch.
Persistance de la simazine appliquée annuellement en l'absence prolongée de façons culturales     

Residues of atrazine, simazine, linuron and diuron after repeated annual applications in a peach orchard

Annual applications of the herbicides atrazine, simazine, linuron and diuron at 45 kg/ha were made to the same plots for 9 consecutive years from 1963 to 1971 in a peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.) orchard located on sandy loam soil near Harrow, Ontario. Soil samples from these plots were collected in late October for the last 3 years (1969–1971) and trees were cut down in December, 1969. Herbicide residues were determined by bioassays based on the fresh and dry weight of oats (Avena sativa L.) and in one year results were confirmed by chemical analysis. Significant accumulation of herbicides was not observed. The maximum residue levels measured in October over the 3 years of sampling were 7′3 kg/ha for diuron, 3–8 kg/ha for linuron, 1–6 kg/ha for simazine and 04 kg/ha for atrazine in the top 15 cm of the soil profile. Simazine and atrazine showed a rapid decrease in amount after treatment but diuron and linuron were degraded more slowly. Measurable residues of all herbicides were confined to the upper 15 cm of the soil profile and the majority of herbicide remained in the 0–5-cm soil layer. Oats were planted in the orchard plots from 1972 to 1974 to follow the disappearance of the herbicides. All herbicides caused highly significant yield decreases in 1972, atrazine causing the least (38%) and diuron the greatest (86%) reductions. Diuron reduced the yield of oats in 1973 and caused a highly significant decrease in the weight of young oat plants in 1974.     

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 INFLUENCE OF SIMAZINE ON SHOOT AND ROOT GROWTH OF APPLES AND PLUMS

Summary. In loamy soil with a low humus content (0·8% organic carbon) simazine at a concentration of 2'5 ppm reduced growth of shoots, roots and trunk diameter in 1-year-old scions of five apple varieties on M IX rootstock. The most susceptible was Cox's Orange Pippin; 5 ppm was lethal for this variety only. In experiments with vertically divided pots, where one part of the root system developed in soil with simazine (2–5 ppm and 5–0 ppm for apple and 5·0 ppm for plum) and the other part in simazine-free soil, there was less effect on shoot growth and less leaf damage than where all the soil contained simazine. Growth of that part of the root system in soil containing simazine was stimulated.     

FIELD EXPERIMENTS TO INVESTIGATE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF REPEATED APPLICATIONS OF MCPA, TRI-ALLATE, SIMAZINE AND LINURON: REPORT AFTER 6 YEARS

Summary. In five long-term field experiments begun in 1963, each of four herbicides was applied to plots either planted with the same crop each year or uncropped. The following treatments were applied annually: MCPA at 24 oz/ac to barley at the 5-leaf stage, triallate at 24 oz/ac to barley pre-emergence, simazine at 24 oz/ac to maize pre-emergence, linuron at 12–24 oz/ac to carrots preand post-emergence. The main assessments reported in this paper are crop yield and persistence of herbicide residues. In the fifth experiment, these herbicides were applied twice each year at about double the above these to plots kept as far as possible free from all vegetation. MCPA did not affect the yield of barley and disappeared from the soil within 2–3 weeks of each application. In the uncropped plots, the time for the applied dose (3 lb/ac) to reach the limit of detection was reduced from 3 weeks in 1964 (after three previous applications) to 4 days in 1968 (after ten previous applications). Tri-allate did not affect the yield of barley. Soil residues could be detected for 5–6 months following each dose of 24 oz/ac. When applied at 48 oz/ac twice yearly, a residue persisted but with no progressive build-up during the 6-year period. Agreement between bioassay and CLC methods of determining residues varied from good to a factor of 4, with CLC usually, but not always, providing a higher figure. No residues of pre-allate could be detected in the barley straw or grain. Simazine did not influence the yield of maize during 1963–67. In 1968 there was a significant reduction in yield of foliage and stems but not in grain yield. Simazine applied to maize disappeared from the soil rapidly during the first 6 weeks; after this period 20–25% of the applied dose could be recovered. The remaining residues declined slowly and 1–2 oz/ac could be detected 23–50 weeks after application. No residues were found below the 0–2 in. soil level. When 48 oz/ac was applied twice annually a residue persisted varying from 8 to 27 oz/ac/6 in. There was no accumulation from year to year and no evidence that repeated treatment influenced breakdown rate. Most of the simazine remained in the 0–2 in. soil level. In three out of four determinations there was good agreement between CLC and bioassay results. Linuron reduced the yield and % dry matter content of carrot roots in 1965 and 1966 probably because of exceptional short-term phytotoxicity, otherwise there was no effect. Half the applied dose of 8–16 oz/ac disappeared from the soil within 8 weeks and residues were undetectable after 6 months. The residues in the uncropped plots did not fall below 11 oz/ac. Most remained in the 0–2 in. layer of soil but some herbicide was found in the 2–4 and possibly 4–6 in. layers. Progressive build-up of residues did not occur and repeated treatment did not influence breakdown rate. No linuron could be detected in carrot roots in 1965; in 1966, following an abnormally late application, 05 ppm was found. Chemical analyses of soil samples taken at regular intervals during 1964–67 showed that no major changes had been caused by the herbicide treatments in the levels of available potassium, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus or in pH. Information is presented on the variation in the deposit on the soil surface of applied herbicides immediately after spraying, also on subsequent distribution in the soil. It is concluded that this work provides an encouraging contribution to the evidence that these four herbicides, when used at the recommended rates, are unlikely to have any injurious effect on the capacity of soil to produce healthy crops. Six armies d'expériences au champ pour étudier les effets & long terme d'applieations répétiés de MCPA, tri-allate, simazine et linuron Résumé. Dans cinq expériences de longue durée effectuées en plein champ depuis 1963, chacun des quatre herbicides fut appliqué sur des parcelles, soit replantées chaque année avec la mème culture, soit non cultivées. Les traitements suivants furent appliqués chaque année: du MCPA à 1,680 kg/ha sur de I'orge au stade 5 feuilles; du tri-allate à 1,680 kg/ha en pré -levée sur de I'orge; de Ia simazine à 1,680 kg/ha en pre-levee sur du mais; du linuron à 0,840 et 1,680 kg/ha sur des carottes en pre-levee et en post-levée. Les principaux résultats mentionnés dans cette publication concernent les rendements et la persistance des résidus herbicides. Dans la cinquiéme expéerience, les herbicides ont été appliqués deux fois chaque année, à des doses approximativement doubles de celles indiquées ci-dessus, sur des parcelles maintenues autant que possible sans végétation. Le MCPA n'affecta pas le rendement de l'orge et disparut du sol dans les 2 à 3 semaines qui suivirent chaque application. Dans les parcelles non cultivées, le temps pour que la dose appliquée (3,3 kg/ha) décroisse jusqu à la limite de detection fut réduit de 3 semaines en 1964 (aprés trois traitements) à 4 jours en 1968 (aprées dix traitements). Le tri-allate n'afFecta pas le rendement de l'orge. Les résidus dans le sol purent étre détectés durant les 5 à 6 mois qui suivirent chaque traitement à la dose de 1,680 kg/ha. Quand ce produit fut appliqué 2 fois par an à 3,360 kg/ha, un résidu persista, mais sans qu'il en resulte une accumulation progressive, durant les 6 années de l'expérience. Entre les essais biologiques et les méethodes chimiques de détermination des résidus, la concordance fut tantôt bonne, tantôt correspondant à un coefficient 4, les méthodes chimiques fournissant généralement, mais pas toujours, des ehiffres plus élevés. Aucun résidu de tri-allate ne put être décelé dans la parcelle ou les grains de l'orge. La simazine n'influenca pas la production du mais durant la péeriode de 1963 à 1967. En 1968. il y cut une réduction significative de la production de tiges et de feuilles, mais non de la production de grain. La simazine appliquée sur le mais disparut du sol rapidement durant les six premiéres semaines; aprés cette période 20 à 25% de la dose appliquee pouvaient être retrouvês. Les résidus restants diminuérent lentement et 70 à 140 g/ha purent être de'celes 23 à 50 semaines apres l'application. II ne fut pas trouvé de résidus au-dessous de la couche située entre 0 et 5 cm à partir de la surface du sol. Aprfes les traitements à 3,360 kg/ha, appliqués deux fois par an, un résidu persistant, variant de 0,560 kg/ha à 1,890 kg/ha sur une profondeur de 15 centimétres. 11 n'eut pas d'accumulation d'une année à l'autre et pas d'indice de modification du taux de degradation resultant de la repetition des traitements. La plus grande partie de la simazine resta localisee entre 0 et 5 cm au-dessous de la surface du sol. Dans trois essais sur quatre, il y cut une bonne concordance entre les dosages chimiques et les dosages biologiques. Le linuron réduisit le rendement et le pourcentage de matére séche des racines de carottes en 1965 et 1966, probablement en raison d'une exceptionnelle phytotoxicitéà court terme. Les autres années, il n'y eut pas d'effet. La moitié de la dose appliqué e (dc 0,560 kg/ha 1,12 kg/ha) disparut du sol durant les 8 premieres semaines et il ne fut plus possible de detecter des résidus apres 6 mois. Les résidus dans les parcelles non cultivées ne descendirent pas en-dessous de 0,770 kg/ha. La plus grande partie restait entre 0 et 5 cm au-dessous de la surface du sol, maia des traces d'herbicide furent retrouvees dans la couche 5 à 10 cm et peut-être dans la couche 10 à 20 cm. II n'y et pas d'augnientation progressive des résidus et la répétition des traitements ne modifia pas le taux de dégradation. II ne fut pas décelé de linuron dans les racines de carottes en 1965; en 1966; à la suite d'une application anormalement tardive, il en fut trouvé 0,5 ppm. Des analyses chimiques d'échantillons de sols préieves à intervalles réguliers entre 1964 et 1967 montrirént que les traitements herbicides n'avaient pas provoqué de changements importants dans les taux de potassium utilisable, d'azote nitrique ou ammoniacal, de phosphore utilisable; le pH ne fut pas non plus affecté. Des informations sont présentées, eoncernant la variation du depot en surface des herbicides appliqués, immédiatement aprés le traitement, et aussi sur la distribution qui en résulta dans le sol. En conclusion, ce travail apporte une contribution encourageante à la preuve que ces quatre herbicides, quand ils sont utilisés aux doses recommandées, n'ont trés probablement pas d'effet nuisible sur la capacié du sol à produire des récoltes saines. Feldversuche zur Untersuchung der langfristigen Auswirkung wiederholter Applikationen von MCPA, Triallat, Simazin und Linuron. Bericht nach sechs Versuchsjahren Zusammenfassung. In fünf 1963 angelegten langfristigen Feldversuehen wurden vier Herbizide jeweils auf Flächen mit permanenter Monokultur und auf Brachflächen ausgebracht. Foigende Behandlungen erfolgten jährlich: 1,68 kg/ha MCPA zu Gerste im 5-Blattstadium, Vorauflaufbehandlung mit 1,68 kg/ha Triallat 2u Gerste, Vorauf-laufbehandlung mit 1,68 kg/ha Simazin zu Mais, Vorund Nachaufiaufbehandlung mit 0–84 bis 1,68 kg/ha Linuron zu Mohren. Die in dieser Arbeit berichteten Aus-wertungen beziehen sich vorwiegend auf den Ertrag und die Persistenz der Herbizid- Rückstände. Im fünften Versuch wurden die Herbizide zweimal jährlich in ungefähr doppelter Aufwandmenge auf weitgehend vegetationslosen Fläehen angewandt. MCPA beeinflusste den Ertrag von Gerste nicht und verschwand aus dem Boden innerhalb von zwei bis drei Wochen nach jeder Behandlung. Auf den Brachflachen war die Zeit des Abbaus bis zur Nachweisgrenze der ausgebrachten Menge (3,36 kg/ha) von drei Wochen im Jahr 1964 (nach drei vorausgegangenen Applikationen) auf vier Tage im Jahr 1968 (nach zehn vorausgegangenen Applikationen) zurückgegangen. Triallat beeinflusste den Ertrag von Gerste nicht. Rückstände im Boden waren fünf bis sechs Monate lang nach jeder Applikation von 1,68 kg/ha festzustellen. Wurden 3,36 kg/ha zweimal jährlich ausgebracht, so war eine permanente Ruckstandsmenge, jedoch keine Akkumulation im Verlaufe der sechs Versuchsjahre festzustellen. Die Oberein-stimmung zwischen Biotest und GLG-Methode zur Riickstandsbestimmung variiertc von gut bis zu einem Faktor vier, wobei mit GLG gewohnlich, jedoch nicht iminer, ein höherer Wert ermittelt wurde. Keine Triallat-Ruckstande waren in Stroh und Korn von Gerste nachzuweisen. Simazin beeinflusste den Ertrag von Mais in der Versuchszeit von 1963 bis 1967 nicht. 1968 war eine signifikante Ertragsminderung bei Blatt und Stengel, nicht jedoch beim Korn, eingetreten. Simazin verschwand in den Maisparzellen innerhalb der ersten sechs Wochen rasch aus dem Boden; danach konnten noch 20 bis 25% der ursprunglich ausgebrachten Menge wiedergefunden werden. Die verbliebenen Rückstandsmengen verschwanden nur langsam und 0,07 bis 0,14 kg/ha konnten noch 23 bis 50 Wochen nach der Behandlung nachgewiesen werden. Keine Ruckstande waren unterhalb 5 cm Bodentiefe festzustellen. Wurden 3,36 kg/ha zweimal jährlich ausgebracht, so war eine permanente Ruckstandsmenge von 0,56 bis 1,89 kg/ha ca. 15 cm vorhanden. Es konnte jedoch keine Akkumulation und kein durch die wiederholte Behandlung bedingter beschleunigter Abbau beobachtet werden. Das Simazin blieb vorwiegend in den obersten 5 cm des Bodens. In drei von vier Analysen war die Üereinstimmung zwischen Biotest und GLG-Methode gut. Linuron beeinträchtigte 1965 und 1966 Ertrag und % Trockengewicht der Möhren-wurzeln vermutlich wegen einer aussergewohnlichen, kurzfristigen, phytotoxischcn Wirkung des Mittels. Sonst war keine Beeinflussung der Möhren zu beobachten. Die Hälfte der ausgebrachten Menge von 0,56 bis 1,12 kg/ha verschwand aus dem Boden innerhalb von acht Wochen und nach sechs Monaten waren keine Rückstande mehr festzustellen. Die Ruckstande auf Brachflachen fielen nicht unterhalb 0,77 kg/ha. Linuron verblieb weitgehend in den obersten 5 cm des Bodens, doch war eine gewisse Menge auch in 5 bis 10 cm und möglicherweise auch in 10 bis 15 cm Bodentiefe nachzuweisen. Akkumulation trat ebensowenig auf wie beschleunigter Abbau nach wieder-holter Anwendung. 1965 waren keine Linuron-Rückstände in Mohrenunrzeln nachzuweisen; 1966 wurde nach einer anomal spaten Applikation eine Ruckstandsmenge von 0,5 ppm gefunden. Die chemische Analyse von Bodenproben, die von 1964 bis 1967 in regelmassigen Abstanden gezogen wurden, ergab keine grosseren herbizidbedingten Veranderungen im pH sowie im Gehalt an veräugbarem Kalium, Nitratund Ammonium-Stickstoff sowie Phosphor. Es werden weiterhin Informationen gegeben über die Variation der Herbizidmengen auf der Bodenoberfläche unmittelbar nach der Behandlung und über die anschliessende Verteilung der Herbizide im Boden. Es wird gefolgert, dass diese Arbeit einen ermutigenden Beitrag zu der Tatsache darstellt, dass diese vier Herbizide in praxisüblichen Auiwandmengen kaum negative Auswirkungen auf die Bodenfruchtbarkeit haben.     

THE HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY OF 2-AMINO-3-CHLORO-1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE

Summary. An investigation was made of a now herbicide, 2–amino-3–chloio-1,4–naphthociuinone (ACNQ,), which appears to be promising for the control oi Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. in transplanted paddy rice [ Oryza sativa L.).
In pot experiments in the glasshouse, seedlings of Echinochloa at different stages of growth were killed by ACNQ, at doses equivalent to 2–4 kg/ha (applied as granules) if they were submerged, but not if the shoots emerged above water. Activity was increased more by raising the level of water in the pot than by increasing the dosage. Emergent rice seedlings were little affected by ACNQ, up to 8 kg/ha, and the observed selectivity is considered to be due mainly to differences in plant height in relation to depth of water.
In laboratory experiments with rice seedlings grown without soil, the activity of ACNQ again increased with the depth of solution. Conversely, at a standard solution depth, there was a reduction in damage with advancing stage of growth, and the chemical had little effect once the leaf tip was above the solution surface.
The rate of leaching of ACNQ. through a sandy soil was slow and, at a dose of 2 kg/ha, persistence was about 15 days.
In evaluating new herbicides for paddy rice it is suggested that screening tests arc necessary on submerged as well as non-submerged plants.
Activité herbicide de la 2–amino-3–chloro-1,'4–naphtoquimne. I. Activité herbicide et profondtur de de l'eau     

Field experiments to investigate long-term effects of repeated applications of MCPA, tri-allate, simazine and linuron: II. Crop performance and residues 1969–78

In four field experiments begun in 1963, each of four herbicides was applied to plots planted wilh the same crop each year. The annual treatments were: MCPA at 17 kg/ha to barley (Hordeum sativa Jess) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at growth stage 15. tri-allate at 17 kg/ha pre-emergcnce to barley and wheat, simazine at l7kg/ha pre-emergence to maize (Zea mays L.) and linuron in two applications of 084 kg/ha pre- and post-emergence to carrots (Daucus carota L.). MCPA did not affect growth or yield of either barley or wheat. In general tri-allate also did not aftect the crops although wheat yield was depressed in 1978, wheat 1000 grain weight was reduced in 1972 and barley germination percentage was increased in 1973. Simazine did not influence the height, yield or appearance of maize. Linuron normally produced no effect on carrot yield, density and size. However, in 2 years when the post-emergence application was late, density but not yield was lower than in control plots. There was no accumulation of residues of any of these compounds in the soil. Rates of loss were similar to those predicted on ihe basis of laboratory experiments. In a fifth experiment these herbicides were applied twice per year (3 times in the case of linuron) at double the rales above on each occasion to bare plots. These applications ceased in 1968 (1969 for MCPA) but residues were monitored until 1972 except in the case of MCPA. Disappearance rates were similar to those in the cropped plots and residues were largely confined to the top 10 cm. The plots treated with MCPA had developed an enhanced ability lo degrade il prior to 1968. This persisted for 5 years after the final application.     

THE USE OF A LOW DOSE OF ATRAZINE ALONE AND IN MIXTURES WITH OTHER HERBICIDES IN THE MAIZE CROP

Summary. Linuron, 2,4-D-aniine, propachlor, pyriclor and cypromid, singly and mixture with atrazine, were compared with atrazine and fluromidine alone for effectiveness of weed control in maize on Oxford clay soil. Pre-emergence applications were made under wet conditions and atrazine, even at 0·28 kg/ha a.i. gave an excellent control of three main weeds, Stellaria media, Veronica spp. and Polygonum aviculare , and at 0·56 kg/ha also killed Aethusa cynapium. Fluromidine was comparable with atrazine, but linuron,2,4-D-amine, propachlor and pyriclor were less effective. Post-emergence treatments were less satisfactory. High doses of atrazine were needed for good weed control. Acynapium was resistant to pyriclor and cypromid and P. aviculare to fluromidine. 2,4-Daminewas ineffective, but atrazine/2,4-D-amine mixtures were more effective than the individual components for the control of P. aviculare. Pyriclor, at 0·56 kg/ha pre-emergenceand cypromid at 2·24 kg/ha post-emergence directly reduced the yield of the crop.
Utilisation de I'atrazine à faible dose, seule et en mélange avec d'autres herbicides, dans les culturesde maïs     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE LOSS OF TRI-ALLATE FROM SOILS

Summary. Electron-capture gas chromatography was used to detect tri-allate residues in persistence studies with two soils. At rates equivalent to 0–75, 15 and 3 Ib/ac, 50% of the amount applied was degraded in 8–11 weeks at 25°C in moist Regina heavy clay and Weyburn loam. No loss occurred in sterile soils, indicating that microbial degradation may be a, major factor contributing to tri-allate breakdown.
When aqueous solutions buffered at pH 4–8 were held at 25° G, only 10–15% of the tri-allate was chemically degraded during 24 weeks.
At the normal field rate of 1·25 Ib/ac, tri-allate was not readily leached. From soil columns of Weyburn loam, 5–7% was eluted by 9 in. of water; with clay the corresponding value was 12–13% of the amount applied. When field plots were sprayed with 125 lb/ac in April, tri-allate could still be detected until the soil froze in November.
Facteurs agissant sur la perte de tri-allate dans les sots     

PERSISTENCE OF PHYTOTOXIC RESIDUES OF TRIAZINE HERBICIDES IN SOIL

Summary. A bioassay technique for the determination of phytotoxic residues of triazine herbicides and monuron in soil from field plots is described. The effect of a dilution series with untreated soil on shoot growth of Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is compared with that in a corresponding assay at the lime of application of the herbicide. This method was used to compare the persistence of residues of simazine, propazine, prometon and monuron, and to compare persistence in 3 years and in three soil types. The time required for disappearance of 80% of the activity following application of 2 lb/ac of simazine varied from 7 to 27 weeks, according to the year. Prometon was the most persistent of the triazines tested.
Persistance de résidus phyloloxiques d'herbicides à base de triazines dans le sol     

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.     

Management of phytophthora root rot in radiata pine seedlings

Chemical and biological agents were evaluated for their ability to suppress root rot, caused by Phytophthora cactorum , in field-grown radiata pine seedlings in New Zealand. Trials were conducted over two seasons in an area of a forest nursery with a natural infestation of P. cactorum , and a history of root rot. In each season, symptoms of root rot developed during April, one month after root pruning, when seedlings were approximately six months old. In trial one, root rot incidence by mid July 2007 was 9·1% in untreated plots and 8·4% in plots that had been treated with metalaxyl-M/mancozeb (14 kg ha⁻¹) at seedling emergence. Disease incidence was lowest (2·1%) in plots that received seven monthly applications of phosphorous acid (6·5 L ha⁻¹). Other treatments, including seed coating with thiram or Trichoderma spp., and foliar applications of methyl jasmonate, did not control disease. In trial two, effects of treatment timing relative to root pruning were investigated. By late June 2008, three months after root pruning, root rot incidence was 22·2% in the untreated plots. Phosphorous acid was the most effective treatment and almost completely suppressed disease (0·1% incidence) when applied fortnightly from February until May (seven applications). Metalaxyl-M/mancozeb (15 kg ha⁻¹) was not effective (21·4% incidence) when applied five months before root pruning. However, disease incidence was reduced when the chemical was applied one week after root pruning (14·9% incidence) and greater control was achieved (8·2% incidence) when the application rate was increased to 50 kg ha⁻¹.     

FATE OF SEEDS OF SOME ANNUAL WEEDS IN DIFFERENT DEPTHS OF CULTIVATED AND UNDISTURBED SOIL

Summary. Freshly-collected seeds of twenty species of annual weeds were uniformly mixed with 2.5, 7.5 or 15 cm of soil confined in cylinders sunk in the ground outdoors. The soil was either cultivated four times a year or left undisturbed, seedling emergence was recorded, and after 5 years the numbers of viable seeds remaining were determined.
Total seedling emergence from seeds incorporated to 2·5, 7·5 and 15 cm amounted to 75, 65 and 54% respectively of those added when the soil was cultivated, and 58, 36 and 21% where it was left undisturbed. The corresponding numbers of viable seeds remaining after 5 years were 2·3, 4·0 and 7·7% respectively for cultivated soil, and 6·8, 16·5 and 31·6% of the seeds initially added and then not disturbed. Individual species varied in their responses to increasing depth of incorporation and to cultivation; these differences are discussed in relation to the dormancy characteritics of the seeds.
Devenir des semences de quelques mauvaises herbes annuelles à différentes profondeur dans un sol cultivé et non cultivé     

Persistence and movement of terbacil in peach orchard soil after repeated annual applications*

Terbacil (5-chloro-6-methyl-3-butyluracil) residues did not accumulate in peach orchard soil after seven consecutive annual spring applications of the herbicide at the rate of 4.5 kg/ha although carry-over of terbacil from year to year occurred. Terbacil was lost by degradation and leaching and the time required for a 50% decrease in surface soil concentration was 5–7 months in the sandy loam soil. The major part of the residues was found in the upper 15 cm of the soil profile and smaller amounts were detected to a depth of 60 cm. Terbacil leached readily in prepared columns of sandy loam soil in proportion to the amount of water added. The residual levels of terbacil in the orchard were phytotoxic to oats planted 3 years after the last application.     

Persistence of benfluralin in soil and its uptake by carrots

Analytical methods are described for the determination of residues of benfluralin in soil and carrots. All plots treated with 1.3 or 1.9 kg benfluralin/ha produced average carrot yields significantly higher than untreated plots. Degradation of benfluralin in soil was very slow during the winter. As the temperature rose, the rate of benfluralin decline was accelerated; 324 days after incorporation, benfluralin residues were reduced to about 11 and 14% of the applied dose. The average total residues of benfluralin found in whole carrots were 210 ± 18 and 240 ± 47 ng/g following doses of 1.3 and 1.9 kg a.i./ha respectively. The peel of carrots contained 92% of the total residue, and there seemed to be little translocation of the compound through the plant tissues.     

SHOOT ZONE UPTAKE OF SOIL-APPLIED HERBICIDES IN PISUM SATIVUM L.

Summary. The effects of localized herbicide placement at different internodes of pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) shoots below the soil surface after plant emergence were studied by removing the soil from around the shoots and replacing with herbicide-treated soil. The first internode proved insensitive to linuron, diuron, atrazine and simazine at 4·5 kg/ha, while treatment of the second and third internodes markedly reduced plant growth 4–6 days after treatment. Separate exposure of the first internode alone, and the second and part of the third together to ¹⁴C-labelled atrazine indicated no difference in herbicide metabolism. However, a two- to threefold increase in ¹⁴C uptake and movement to the foliar parts occurred when the second and part of the third internode was treated, as compared to first internode treatment. Thus the differential sensitivity of the internodes to atrazine, and possibly to the other herbicides, may be because the more mature first internode allows less uptake and subsequent movement to the foliar parts.
Absorption dans la zone des tiges des herbicides appliqués dans le sol chez Pisum sativum L.     

The effect of age on the availability of linuron and simazine residues in soil

Residues of linuron and simazine were measured by both bioassay and gas-chromatographic methods in soil from field plots that had been treated either 20 weeks (both compounds). 41/2 years (linuron) or 51/2 years (simazine) previously. There were no significant differences between the results obtained with the two methods; therefore the relationship between extractable herbicide and that available to plants was independent of the age of the residue. Hence‘bound’residues, if they existed in these plots, had no phytocidal significance.     

Control of Phytophthora root rot of irrigated subterranean clover with potassium phosphonate in Victoria, Australia

Phosphonic acid was more effective in inhibiting the production of sporangia of Phytophthora clandestina in sterile pond water (ED₅₀= 1·4 p.p.m.) than it was in inhibiting the growth of mycelium of the fungus on either corn meal agar (ED₅₀= 13·8p.p.m.) or lima bean agar (ED₅₀= 236 p.p.m.). Experiments under controlled environmental conditions showed that better control of tap root rot of subterranean clover caused by P. clandestina was achieved by application of potassium phosphonate to a pasteurized soil mixture than by a spray on the foliage alone. However, in a soil from a pasture, foliar sprays were more effective than soil treatments. Application of superphosphate at a rate of 250 kg/ha or higher to the soil reduced the effectiveness of sprays. In three experiments in irrigated pastures a spray of potassium phosphonate at 300 or 313 ml/ha, applied to cotyledons of subterranean clover and to soil, reduced severity of Phytophthora root rot and increased the annual production of dry matter of the legume by 1·96 to 5·11 t/ha in comparison with untreated controls.