Pesticide application and cropping data from 37 states, 1972--national soils monitoring program.

This report summarizes pesticide application and cropping data collected in 1972 from 1,402 agricultural sampling sites in 37 states as part of the National Soils Monitoring Program. Pesticide application data are summarized by all sites, states, and crop. Tables generally give the number of sites reporting, number of times a compound was applied, percent occurrence, and arithmetic mean application rate. Pesticides applied most frequently were atrazine, 2.4-D, captan, and trifluralin. Among selected major crops, pesticides were most frequently applied to sites growing field corn and cotton, least frequently to sites growing alfalfa/bur clover and mixed hay.     

西北春小麦和麦田土壤中15种常用农药残留的检测

为掌握西北春小麦和麦田土壤的农药残留污染状况,在调研和总结分析了西北春小麦的病、虫、草害发生和防治措施基础上,采集了我国西北地区甘肃、青海、宁夏的9个春小麦产区的小麦籽粒和麦田土壤样品。针对春小麦病虫草害防治中常用的农药,使用HPLC-MS/MS和GC-MS方法,测定了吡虫啉、高效氯氰菊酯、辛硫磷、毒死蜱等4种杀虫剂,三唑酮及其代谢物三唑醇、戊唑醇、多菌灵、三环唑、苯醚甲环唑等6种杀菌剂,精噁唑禾草灵、苯磺隆、2,4-滴丁酯、炔草酯及其代谢物炔草酸等5种除草剂,共15种农药及代谢物在小麦籽粒和麦田土壤中的残留量。通过与小麦中农药残留限量相比较,评价了西北春小麦的食品安全。结果显示,仅在采自甘肃金昌的小麦籽粒样品中检出了戊唑醇,且未超过最大残留限量,在其他样品中均未检出15种农药的残留,表明西北春小麦和麦田土壤的农药安全性均较高。本研究为掌握小麦籽粒的农药残留和麦田土壤的农药污染情况提供了研究数据,为进一步指导西北春小麦的绿色无公害病虫害防治提供了参考。     

Residualwirkung von Chlortriazin-Herbiziden im Boden an drei rumänischen Standorten. II. Prognose möglicher Folgekulturen bei Atrazinrükständen im Boden

Residual effects of chlorotriazine herbicides in soil at three Rumanian sites. II. Prediction of the phytotoxicity of atrazine residues to following crops Total and plant-available atrazine residues in the top 10 cm soil were measured 120 days after application of 3 kg ai ha^?1 to maize (Zea mays L.) at three sites in Rumania. At one site, similar measurements were made 3?5 years after application of 100 kg ai ha^?1. Plant-available atrazine residues were estimated by extraction of soil samples with water, and by bioassay using Brassica rapa as the test plant. It was calculated that between 30 and 120μg atrazine 1^?1 was potentially available to plants in the different soils. Dose-response relationships for atrazine and the most important rotational crops with maize in Rumania—sunflower, winter wheat, soybean and flax—were determined in hydroponic culture using herbicide concentrations corresponding with the plant-available fractions measured in the different soils. ED₅₀ values were determined by probit analysis and the results showed that sunflower (ED₅₀, 22μg 1^?1) was the most sensitive crop, and soybean (ED₅₀, 78μg 1^?1) was the least. The residual phytotoxicity of atrazine to succeeding crops in the different soils was predicted using the appropriate availability and phytotoxicity data, and the results showed good agreement with those observed. The results suggest that measurements of plant-available herbicide residues afford a rapid method of assessing possible phytotoxicity to following crops.     

基于点评估方法的渤海湾产区苹果中农药残留膳食暴露风险研究

为评估渤海湾产区苹果中主要农药的残留情况及其产生的风险,在山东、辽宁及河北3个主要省份的150个生产基地进行了苹果样品采集与测定分析,并对我国不同人群的膳食暴露风险进行了评估。结果表明:93.3%的苹果样品检出有低浓度农药残留,经最大残留限量值(MRL)判定后100%合格,82.0%的样品中农药残留种类在3种及以下;共检出17种农药残留,大多为低毒或无毒农药,无禁用和高毒农药。采用点评估方法,选择检出率在20%以上的多菌灵、毒死蜱、啶虫脒和戊唑醇进行不同消费人群暴露点评估。结果显示:4种农药的急性和慢性摄入风险均为儿童高于成年人,绝大多数女性人群的摄入风险高于男性;4种农药急性摄入风险均高于慢性摄入风险,风险水平由高到低为多菌灵毒死蜱戊唑醇啶虫脒,但点评估结果均远低于100%,说明通过食用苹果摄入的农药残留极其微量,不会对人体产生急性或慢性风险。     

Transport to ground‐water of six commonly used herbicides: a prediction for two Italian scenarios

In Italy suitable standard scenarios for pesticide risk assessment based on computer models are lacking. In this paper we examine the use of the VARLEACH model to assess the potential danger of ground‐water pollution by six herbicides (alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, linuron, simazine and terbuthylazine) which are used to protect irrigated (maize) and non‐irrigated (sorghum) crops in the Po Plain, one of the most important agricultural lands in Italy. Two extreme scenarios are taken: real worst case (sandy soil) and real best case (clay loam soil). The simulation suggests that cyanazine, linuron and terbuthylazine can be safely used in clay loam soil in both non‐irrigated and irrigated crops, while alachlor, atrazine and simazine can be safely used only in non‐irrigated crops. On the other hand, the application of all the herbicides tested should be avoided in sandy soil, with the exception of linuron in non‐irrigated crops. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Triazine herbicide residues in central European streams

Triazine herbicide residues were monitored in the rivers Adour, Danube, Garonne, Herault, Loire, Marne, Oise, Rhine, and Rh?ne from spring 1976 to fall 1977 to determine whether the continued use of the compounds resulted in accumulations of undesirable residues in the streams. Samples were generally collected monthly or bimonthly and analyzed for the parent compounds atrazine, simazine, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, and dealkylated metabolites GS 26571 (2-amino-4-etert-butylamino-6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine) and G 30033 (2-amino-4-chloro-6-ethylamino-1,3,5-triazine). The compounds were extracted into dichloromethane and quantitated by gas chromatography (GC) with nitrogen-specific detection. Selected results were verified by GC with mass fragmentographic detection. Limit of detection was usually 0.4 mg/m3; 80 percent of all results were below 0.4 mg/m3, 14 percent were 0.4-1 mg/m3, 6 percent were 1-10 mg/m3, and 0.3 percent were higher than 10 mg/m3. Detectable residues were mainly atrazine from the downstream sampling sites. Residues usually peaked during June.     

Herbicide leaching as affected by macropore flow and within-storm rainfall intensity variation: a RZWQM simulation

Within-event variability in rainfall intensity may affect pesticide leaching rates in soil, but most laboratory studies of pesticide leaching use a rainfall simulator operating at constant rainfall intensity, or cover the soil with ponded water. This is especially true in experiments where macropores are present--macroporous soils present experimental complexities enough without the added complexity of variable rainfall intensity. One way to get around this difficulty is to use a suitable pesticide transport model, calibrate it to describe accurately a fixed-intensity experiment, and then explore the affects of within-event rainfall intensity variation on pesticide leaching through macropores. We used the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) to investigate the effect of variable rainfall intensity on alachlor and atrazine transport through macropores. Data were used from an experiment in which atrazine and alachlor were surface-applied to 30 x 30 x 30 cm undisturbed blocks of two macroporous silt loam soils from glacial till regions. One hour later the blocks were subjected to 30-mm simulated rain with constant intensity for 0.5 h. Percolate was collected and analyzed from 64 square cells at the base of the blocks. RZWQM was calibrated to describe accurately the atrazine and alachlor leaching data, and then a median Mid-west variable-intensity storm, in which the initial intensity was high, was simulated. The variable-intensity storm more than quadrupled alachlor losses and almost doubled atrazine losses in one soil over the constant-intensity storm of the same total depth. Also rainfall intensity may affect percolate-producing macroporosity and consequently pesticide transport through macropores. For example, under variable rainfall intensity RZWQM predicted the alachlor concentration to be 2.7 microg ml(-1) with an effective macroporosity of 2.2 E(-4) cm(3) cm(-3) and 1.4 microg ml(-1) with an effective macroporosity of 4.6 E(-4) cm(3) cm(-3). Percolate-producing macroporosity and herbicide leaching under different rainfall intensity patterns, however, are not well understood. Clearly, further investigation of rainfall intensity variation on pesticide leaching through macropores is needed.     

Predicted impact of transgenic, herbicidetolerant corn on drinking water quality in vulnerable watersheds of the mid-western USA

In the intensely farmed corn-growing regions of the mid-western USA, surface waters have often been contaminated by herbicides, principally as a result of rainfall runoff occurring shortly after application of these to corn and other crops. In some vulnerable watersheds, water quality criteria for chronic human exposure through drinking water are occasionally exceeded. We selected three settings representative of vulnerable corn-region watersheds, and used the PRZM-EXAMS model with the Index Reservoir scenario to predict corn herbicide concentrations in the reservoirs as a function of herbicide properties and use pattern, site characteristics and weather in the watersheds. We compared herbicide application scenarios, including broadcast surface pre-plant atrazine and alachlor applications with a glyphosate pre-plant application, scenarios in which losses of herbicides were mitigated by incorporation or banding, and scenarios in which only glyphosate or glufosinate post-emergent herbicides were used with corn genetically modified to be resistant to them. In the absence of drift, in almost all years a single runoff event dominates the input into the reservoir. As a result, annual average pesticide concentrations are highly correlated with annual maximum daily values. The modeled concentrations were generally higher than those derived from monitoring data, even for no-drift model scenarios. Because of their lower post-emergent application rates and greater soil sorptivity, glyphosate and glufosinate loads in runoff were generally one-fifth to one-tenth those of atrazine and alachlor. These model results indicate that the replacement of pre-emergent corn herbicides with the post-emergent herbicides allowed by genetic modification of crops would dramatically reduce herbicide concentrations in vulnerable watersheds. Given the significantly lower chronic mammalian toxicity of these compounds, and their vulnerability to breakdown in the drinking water treatment process, risks to human populations through drinking water would also be reduced.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls and other organic chemical residues in fish from major United States watersheds near the Great Lakes, 1978

Twenty-six composite samples of fish were collected during 1978 from United States watersheds near the Great Lakes and analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and related organic chemicals. PCB mixtures resembling Aroclor 1254 were found in all samples, and mixtures resembling Aroclor 1242 (or 1016) were found in 77 percent of the samples. Total PCB concentrations in the whole-fish composite samples ranged from 0.13 to 14.6 ppm; 65 percent of the samples contained more than 2 ppm PCBs. DDT and its metabolites were found in all samples. sigma DDT concentration was 1.66 ppm, and 81 percent of the samples contained less than 1.0 ppm sigma DDT. Chlordane ranged from less than 0.001 to 2.57 ppm in 38 percent of the samples. Hexachlorobenzene was found in 65 percent of the samples, ranging from less than 0.005 to 0.447 ppm. Other chemicals identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry included petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorobenzenes, chlorostyrenes, chlorophenols, and chlorinated aliphatic compounds. Fish from the Ashtabula River (Ohio), Rock River (Ohio), and Wabash River (Indiana) contained extremely complex residues of chlorinated and other organic chemicals.     

Pesticides in surface water runoff in south-eastern New York State, USA: seasonal and stormflow effects on concentrations

Samples from two streams (Kisco River and the Middle Branch of the Croton River) in the Croton Reservoir system in south-eastern New York State, USA were sampled from May 2000 through to February 2001 in order to document the effect of land use, streamflow and seasonal patterns of application on pesticide concentrations in runoff from developed watersheds. Many of the pesticides detected most commonly in this study are generally used in developed areas, and particularly on turfgrass. Pesticide concentrations were generally higher, and the numbers of compounds were generally larger, in samples from the Kisco River than in samples from the Middle Branch, probably because the Kisco River drainage has a greater population density and is more extensively developed. Four pesticides (2,4-D, 2,4-D-methyl, dicamba and metalaxyl) were detected in at least one sample from the Kisco River at a concentration >1 microg litre(-1), and no pesticides were detected at concentrations >0.4 microg litre(-1) in Middle Branch samples. No human-health-based water-quality standards were exceeded by samples from either site in this study, but samples from the Kisco River contained four insecticides (carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion) and one herbicide (2,4-D) in concentrations that exceeded water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life. The highest concentrations of most compounds occurred during stormflows in both streams in June, September and December, 2000. The lowest concentrations of most compounds at both sites occurred during baseflows from October 2000 through February 2001, even though the concentrations of many compounds increased substantially at the Kisco River site during stormflows in November and December. Detailed data on the variability of pesticide concentrations during stormflows indicate that there may be two sources of pesticides in the Kisco River watershed: (1) elevated concentrations of pesticides during peak flows that occur early in stormflows likely reflect runoff from paved areas, and (2) elevated concentrations during peak flows that occur later in stormflows from areas with lesser amounts of pavement. Data from the Kisco River indicate that the relation between storm discharge and pesticide concentrations varies among compounds, in part because of variation in seasonal application patterns. These variations in the timing of application result in not all stormflows producing increased concentrations of pesticides. Overall, these results indicate the importance of stormflow sampling throughout the year in assessing pesticide fate and transport in urbanized, developed areas.     

Test of the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) for predicting runoff of atrazine, alachlor and fenamiphos species from conventional-tillage corn mesoplots

The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) is a comprehensive, integrated physical, biological and chemical process model that simulates plant growth and movement of water, nutrients and pesticides in a representative area of an agricultural system. We tested the ability of RZWQM to predict surface runoff losses of atrazine, alachlor, fenamiphos and two fenamiphos oxidative degradates against results from a 2-year mesoplot rainfall simulation experiment. Model inputs included site-specific soil properties and weather, but default values were used for most other parameters, including pesticide properties. No attempts were made to calibrate the model except for soil crust/seal hydraulic conductivity and an adjustment of pesticide persistence in near-surface soil. Approximately 2.5 (+/- 0.9), 3.0 (+/- 0.8) and 0.3 (+/- 0.2)% of the applied alachlor, atrazine and fenamiphos were lost in surface water runoff, respectively. Runoff losses in the 'critical' events--those occurring 24 h after pesticide application--were respectively 91 (+/- 5), 86 (+/- 6) and 96 (+/- 3)% of total runoff losses for these pesticides. RZWQM adequately predicted runoff water volumes, giving a predicted/observed ratio of 1.2 (+/- 0.5) for all events. Predicted pesticide concentrations and loads from the 'critical' events were generally within a factor of 2, but atrazine losses from these events were underestimated, which was probably a formulation effect, and fenamiphos losses were overestimated due to rapid oxidation. The ratios of predicted to measured pesticide concentrations in all runoff events varied between 0.2 and 147, with an average of 7. Large over-predictions of pesticide runoff occurred in runoff events later in the season when both loads and concentrations were small. The normalized root mean square error for pesticide runoff concentration predictions varied between 42 and 122%, with an average of 84%. Pesticide runoff loads were predicted with a similar accuracy. These results indicate that the soil-water mixing model used in RZWQM is a robust predictor of pesticide entrainment and runoff.     

Association ofGeotrichum citri-aurantii with citrus groves in Israel

Soil samples from 99 sites in four geographic regions of Israel were examined for the presence ofGeotrichum citri-aurantii, the sour-rot pathogen of citrus fruit. The soil at each site was sampled from three locations: the center of, the margin of, and 100 m distant from a citrus grove.Geotrichum spp. were present in all geographic regions, but could be detected in only 183 of 297 locations. Sixty to 80% of the soil samples in the center and margin of the groves containedG. citri-aurantii, whereas only less than 21% of the soil samples outside the citrus grove contained this pathogen. Of the total soil samples, only 10% contained avirulent strains (i.e., G. candidum). Outside the citrus grove, 100 m from the margin,Geotrichum spp. could not be detected at most locations (75–100%). Results indicated a possible association between the sour-rot pathogen and the grove environment in Israel.     

Removal of Atrazine Contamination in Soil and Liquid Systems Using Bioaugmentation

Reported levels of atrazine in soils at pesticide mix-load sites can vary between 7·9×10^-5 mM and 1·9 mM . We report on a mixed microbial culture, capable of degrading concentrations of atrazine in excess of 1·9 mM . At initial concentrations of 0·046 M and 0·23 M , the mixed population degraded 78% and 21% of atrazine in soil (100 days), respectively. At the same initial concentrations in liquid cultures, 90% and 56% of the atrazine was degraded (80 days), respectively. Decreased degradation in soil samples may have resulted from atrazine sorption to soil surfaces or decreased contact between the population and the herbicide. In the 0·23 M system, we attribute incomplete degradation to phosphorous depletion. Data for carbon dioxide evolution was fitted to a three-half-order regression model, but we feel that there are limitations of the application of this model to atrazine degradation. The population uses the herbicide as a nitrogen source and little carbon is incorporated into biomass, as the energy status of carbons in the ring leads to their direct evolution as [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide. This situation contributes to an evolution pattern that, when fitted to the three-half-order model, results in underestimation of the biomass produced. Data from our study suggest that our mixed culture could be used for bioremediation of atrazine at concentrations up to and exceeding those currently reported for agrochemical mixing-loading facilities. © 1997 SCI.     

Residues of methoxychlor and other chlorinated hydrocarbons in water, sand, and selected fauna following injections of methoxychlor black fly larvicide into the Saskatchewan River, 1972.

In May 1972, 0.309 ppm methoxychlor black fly larvicide was applied in a single test on the North Saskatchewan River. Eight to nine days later residues of 0.05-0.10 ppm methoxychlor occurred in sand 21-22 km downstream from the point of injection. Methoxychlor was not detected in water, insect larvae, shellfish, or muscle tissues of three fish species on the same sampling date. Perhaps because of relatively high oil content in goldeye fish, methoxychlor residues in muscle tissues were 1.0-1.5 ppm in 8 percent of those sampled, 0.21-0.99 in 21 percent, and 0.02-0.20 in 37 percent. In 34 percent of the goldeye fish no residues were detected. Goldeye and other fish collected before or 17 weeks after this injection did not contain detectable levels of methoxychlor. River water in two samples of the injected slug of water collected 6.5 km downstream from the point of injection contained 0.14 and 0.16 ppm methoxychlor. The suspended solids filtered from these sample contained 40 and 47 percent of this methoxychlor (437 and 892 ppm, respectively). Thus methoxychlor may act selectively against filter-feeding species, especially black fly larvae.     

Spatial variability in 14C-herbicide degradation in surface and subsurface soils

The spatial variability in mineralization of atrazine, isoproturon and metamitron in soil and subsoil samples taken from a 135-ha catchment in north France was studied. Fifty-one samples from the top layer were taken to represent exhaustively the 31 agricultural fields and 21 soil types of the catchment. Sixteen additional samples were collected between depths of 0.7 and 10 m to represent the major geological materials encountered in the vadose zone of the catchment. All these samples were incubated with 14C-labelled atrazine under laboratory conditions at 28 degrees C. Fourteen selected surface samples which exhibited distinctly different behaviour for atrazine dissipation (including sorption and mineralization) were incubated with 14C-isoproturon and 14C-metamitron. Overall soil microbial activity and specific herbicide degradation activities were monitored during the incubations through measurements of total carbon dioxide and 14C-carbon dioxide respectively. At the end of the incubations, extractable and non-extractable (bound) residues remaining in soils were measured. Variability of herbicide dissipation half-life in soil surface samples was lower for atrazine and metamitron (CV < 12%) than for isoproturon (CV = 46%). The main contributor to the isoproturon dissipation variability was the variability of the extractable residues. For the other herbicides, spatial variability was mainly related to the variability of their mineralization. In all cases, herbicide mineralization half-lives showed higher variability than those of dissipation. Sorption or physicochemical soil properties could not explain atrazine and isoproturon degradation, whose main factors were probably directly related to the dynamics of the specific microbial degradation activity. In contrast, variability of metamitron degradation was significantly correlated to sorption coefficient (K(d)) through correlation with the sorptive soil components, organic matter and clay. Herbicide degradation decreased with depth as did the overall microbial activity. Atrazine mineralization activity was found down to a depth of 2.5 m; beyond that, it was negligible.     

海南芒果中农药多残留分析

为掌握海南省芒果中农药的多残留情况及其对慢性膳食摄入风险的贡献大小,采集海南省主产区芒果样品178份,分别采用气相色谱及超高效液相色谱-串联质谱方法测定了样品中农药的残留情况,并计算了芒果中所检出农药对我国不同人群慢性膳食摄入风险的贡献份额 (R)。结果表明:甲氧基丙烯酸酯类和新烟碱类农药的残留检出率最高 (> 80.00%)。根据我国制定的相关最大残留限量 (MRL) 标准,以下农药残留量均存在超标现象,其中吡唑醚菌酯共有39份样品超标,吡虫啉34份,噻虫胺5份,苯醚甲环唑2份,灭多威和多效唑各1份;71.91%的样品同时含有2种及2种以上单个农药残留,最多者同时检出了8种单个农药残留;同时检出2种及2种以上甲氧基丙烯酸酯类或新烟碱类农药的样品比例分别为23.03%和16.30%;嘧菌酯/吡唑醚菌酯、吡虫啉/吡唑醚菌酯、吡虫啉/嘧菌酯是最常见的农药多残留组合。本研究所检出农药的R值均远远低于1,说明通过芒果摄入的农药残留对整个慢性膳食摄入风险的贡献极小。     

太原市蔬菜有机磷农药残留抽样调查

通过对太原市4个蔬菜批发及零售市场6个品种共179个样品抽样检测，共查出含有机磷农药残留样品37个，检出率20.7%。其中叶菜类油菜、韭菜、生菜、甘菜的检出率分别为20.0%、22.2%、21.7%、36.4%；果菜类中番茄检出率为15.1%、黄瓜未检出，检出的有机磷农药包括对硫磷、甲基对硫磷、甲胺磷、甲拌磷、久效磷、马拉硫磷和乐果等，其中前5种禁止在蔬菜中使用。监测结果表明，太原市蔬菜中农药残留量问题较为严重，加强对蔬菜中农药残留量的监测和治理刻不容缓。     

Pesticide residues in human milk, Alberta, Canada--1966-70, 1977-78

Organochlorine pesticide residues were determined in human milk of residents of Alberta, Canada, during 1966-70 and 1977-78. Levels of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and some common organophosphorus pesticides were also monitored during 1977-78. Average residue levels were generally lower in 1977-78 samples, whereas the percent incidence of residues was generally lower in 1966-70 samples. beta-BHC was found in all 1977-78 samples, but was not detected in 1966-70 samples. PCBs were detected in all but two of the 1977-78 samples. Average levels of p,p'-DDT and is metabolites were substantially lower during the second period than during the first. Large increases in the average levels and percent incidences of heptachlor epoxide and o,p'-DDT have been attributed to refinements in both cleanup and gas chromatographic analysis. Although no PBBs or organophosphorus pesticides were detected in 1977-78 samples, an unidentified hydrocarbon similar to dicofol was found in all samples of that period. No correlation between donor age groups and average pesticide residue levels could be inferred.     

福建省主产区普通白菜中农药残留水平及膳食暴露风险评估

为评估福建省主产区普通白菜中农药残留水平及对人体的膳食暴露风险,采用现有的标准检测方法,对在福建省主产区采集的88个普通白菜样品中的68种农药残留进行了检测分析,并对检出农药进行了短期和长期膳食暴露风险评估。结果显示：88个普通白菜样品中,共有68个样品检出了农药残留,总检出率为77.27%;共检出27种农药,其中杀虫剂18种,杀菌剂9种;检出2种及2种以上农药残留的样品占检出农药残留样品总量的83.82%,存在农药多残留现象。利用相关农药的毒理学数据——急性参考剂量(ARfD)和每日允许摄入量(ADI)、农药残留数据和普通白菜的膳食消费量数据,评估了所检出农药的短期和长期膳食暴露风险。其中,短期膳食暴露风险值(%ARfD)范围为0～90%,长期膳食暴露风险商贡献率(RQc%)范围为0～46%。研究表明,福建省主产区普通白菜中的农药残留水平较低,通过食用该地区生产的普通白菜对消费者的农药残留膳食暴露风险整体在可接受范围内。     

The relationship between the amount of Verticillium dahliae in soil and the incidence of strawberry wilt as a basis for disease risk prediction

The incidence of wilt was recorded in runner and fruiting crops of 13 strawberry cultivars at 72 locations in southern England in 1989 and 1990, and soil samples from the sites were analysed for Verticillium dahliae . Linear regressions of wilt incidence on inoculum concentration in soil for runner crops of the susceptible cv. Elsanta in both years were significant whilst that for runner crops of the susceptible cv. Hapil in 1989 approached significance; the regression for cv. Elsanta fruiting crops in 1990 was not significant. The inclusion of sand content of soil in the regression model improved the fit for the cv. Hapil data but not for the cv. Elsanta data; neither clay nor silt content of soil significantly improved the fit of the models for any data set. There were insufficient data in either year for regression analysis for other cultivars, but the levels of wilt generally corresponded with the degree of soil infestation and broadly reflected known field resistance. The data were used to estimate an inoculum concentration which corresponds to 5% wilt incidence (IC₅) for cv. Elsanta. It is suggested that this could be used as a yardstick for determining the risk of unacceptable levels of wilt in susceptible cultivars on the basis of pre-planting soil analysis.   For the 44 sites where the cropping history over the 15 years prior to soil analysis was available there was no clear association between any crop and soil infestation levels at or above the IC₅. However, V.  dahliae was more common at sites with a history of vegetatively propagated crops than at sites which had only supported crops grown from true seed.