Residual activity of clomeprop and its downward movement under laboratory conditions

The relationship between the behavior of clomeprop ([ RS ]-2-[2,4-dichloro- m -tolyloxy]propionanilide) and its residual phytotoxic activity in the soil was investigated in the laboratory with special emphasis on the concentration in the soil water. The phytotoxic activity of clomeprop on radish seedlings ( Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula cv. Akamaruhatsukadaikon), as the test plant, became greater with time after application but the inhibition was different between the two soils, which had different properties. The amount of 2-(2,4-dichloro-3-methylphenoxy)propionic acid (DMPA), a hydrolyzed and active metabolite of clomeprop, in the soil water and total soil increased with time, corresponding to the decrease in the amount of clomeprop under non-water leakage conditions. The residual phytotoxic activity of clomeprop in the soil was more highly correlated with the concentration of DMPA in the soil water than with the amount of DMPA in the total soil. In addition, a leaching column test was conducted with clomeprop and DMPA. The DMPA easily moved downward and the concentration in the soil water in the upper layer decreased with time after application. It is supposed that the downward movement of DMPA was one of the factors influencing the lasting effect of clomeprop in the field.     

Residual thenylchlor concentration in soil water and its phytotoxic activity in soil

The phytotoxic activity of soil-applied thenylchlor (2-chloro- N -[3-methoxy-2-thenyl]-2',6'-dimethylacetanilide) on the growth of rice seedlings and its behavior in two different types of soil, Ryugasaki soil and Tsukuba soil, after application was investigated with emphasis on the concentration in the soil water. The greatest inhibition of thenylchlor on the growth of rice seedlings was found immediately after application to both the Ryugasaki and Tsukuba soils. The phytotoxic activity decreased with time in both soils. However, the rate of decrease in phytotoxic activity was slower in the Ryugasaki soil than in the Tsukuba soil. The concentration of thenylchlor in soil water, the amount adsorbed on the soil solid, and the amount in the total soil reduced with time after application to both soils. The amount of thenylchlor adsorbed on the soil solid phase was more persistent than that in the soil water in both soils and the concentration in the soil water was higher in the Ryugasaki soil than in the Tsukuba soil at any given time. The residual phytotoxic activity of thenylchlor on the growth of the rice seedlings in the soil was highly correlated with its concentration in the soil water but not with the amount in the total soil. These results suggested that the residual phytotoxic activity of thenylchlor in the soil is determined by its concentration in the soil water after application.     

Residual phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid in soil and its concentration in soil water under different soil moisture conditions

The relationship between the residual phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid (2-chloro- N -[2-ethoxyethyl]- N- [2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propenyl] acetamide) on rice ( Oryza sativa cv. Kiyohatamochi) seedlings and its behavior in soil was investigated under different moisture conditions. The phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid on the shoot growth of rice seedlings in soil was higher in 80% soil moisture content than in 70% and 60% soil moisture contents. The phytotoxic activity in soil in 70% and 80% soil moisture conditions decreased with the increasing time after application, but the phytotoxic activity was slight in 50% soil moisture conditions at any given time after application. The residues of pethoxamid in soil water, the amount adsorbed on soil solid, and the amount in total soil was reduced with the time after application in a similar manner among these soil moisture conditions. The residual phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid on the shoot growth of rice seedlings in soil was more highly correlated with the concentration in soil water than with the amounts adsorbed on soil solid and in total soil. The partition coefficients between the amounts of pethoxamid adsorbed on soil solid and its concentration in soil water were similar among the soils with different moisture conditions at each day, and the partition coefficient increased with the time after application. These results suggested that the residual phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid in soil depends on the decreasing concentration of pethoxamid in soil water with time, except in low soil-moisture conditions, which were insufficient for seedling growth.     

Phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid in soil under different moisture conditions

The phytotoxic activity of soil-applied pethoxamid [2-chloro- N -(2-ethoxyethyl)- N -(2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanyl) acetamide], (TKC-94), on the plant growth of rice ( Oryza sativa cv. Kiyohatamochi ) seedlings as an assay plant in soil was investigated under different soil moisture conditions. The phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid mixed with soil on the shoot and root growth of rice seedlings was uppermost under the highest soil moisture condition and it decreased with declining soil moisture content, while the inhibition was greater on the root growth than the shoot growth. The amount of pethoxamid adsorbed on soil solid and the concentration of pethoxamid in soil water from soil applied with this herbicide were not influenced by the soil moisture content. In addition, the phytotoxic activity on the growth of rice seedlings in sea sand culture applied with the soil water from the herbicide-applied soil was not influenced by the soil moisture content. In the sea sand culture, the phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid was significantly reduced in negative water potential as the concentration of polyethylene glycol-6000 added to the water increased. It is suggested that the phytotoxic activity of pethoxamid in the soil primarily depends on the concentration in soil water, but the phytotoxic activity was affected by soil moisture through the effect on absorption of this herbicide by rice seedlings.     

Differential safening activity of dymron and fenclorim on pretilachlor injury in rice seedlings in soil

The safening activity of dymron [1-(α,α-dimethylbenzyl)-3-( p -tolyl)urea] and fenclorim [4,6-dichloro-2-phenylpyrimidine] on the phytotoxic activity of pretilachlor [2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl- N- (2-propoxyethyl)acetanilide] on rice seedlings was examined in both water and soil culture. The safening activity of fenclorim in water culture was greater than that of dymron, whereas the activity of fenclorim in soil was lower than that of dymron. The fenclorim concentration in soil water was lower than that of dymron at all times when determined after the application at the same concentrations. The phytotoxic activity of pretilachlor and the safening activities of dymron and fenclorim were well correlated with the concentration of each in soil water but not with the amount in total soil. The adsorption of fenclorim on soil solids was greater than those of dymron and pretilachlor. It was suggested that both the phytotoxic activity of pretilachlor and the safening activities of dymron and fenclorim were dependent on their concentrations in soil water, which were primarily dominated by the adsorption on soil.     

Behavior of pyriftalid in soil and its phytotoxic activity on Echinochloa oryzoides seedlings emerging from various soil depths

The phytotoxic activity of pyriftalid ([RS]‐7‐[4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidin‐2‐ylthio]‐3‐methyl‐2‐benzofuran‐1[3H]‐one) on barnyard grass (Echinochloa oryzoides) seedlings emerging from various depths in the soil was investigated in relation to its behavior in the soil. The growth of the barnyard grass seedlings in the soil mixed with pyriftalid was inhibited, depending on the concentration of the herbicide in the soil water but not on the amount in the total soil. A topmost pyriftalid‐treated layer was formed by applying the herbicide to the soil surface under water‐leakage conditions. The concentration of pyriftalid in the soil water and the amount that was adsorbed on the soil solid decreased with time, but the decrease was more marked in the pyriftalid concentration in the soil water than in the amount that was adsorbed on the soil solid. The emergence time of barnyard grass in the soil was faster in the seeds that were located in the shallower soil layer, compared to the deeper soil layer. The growth inhibition of the barnyard grass seedlings emerging from the shallower soil layer was greater than that of the barnyard grass seedlings emerging from the deeper soil layer after the soil surface application of pyriftalid. It is suggested that the emergence timing from the different soil depths is an important factor affecting the herbicidal activity of pyriftalid when it is applied to the soil surface under paddy field conditions.     

Allelopathic potential of itchgrass (Rottboellia exaltata L. f.) powder incorporated into soil

Itchgrass ( Rottboellia exaltata L. f.) is a widespread weed in northern Thailand. The farmers in this area have been using itchgrass as a mulching material in order to control other weeds in vegetable fields. Laboratory experiments were undertaken to investigate the phytotoxic activity of itchgrass powder incorporated into soil in order to evaluate the allelopathic activity in the field. The phytotoxic activity on the growth of radish seedlings ( Raphanus sativa L. var. radicula ), used as a test plant, was more pronounced in the root than in the shoot growth. The phytotoxic activity was found to be similar for the soils incorporated with the shoot or the root powder of itchgrass. The growth of the radish seedlings grown in sea sand and watered with soil water obtained from the soil previously incorporated with itchgrass powder showed a similar inhibition to those planted in the treated soil. The phytotoxic activity on the growth of the radish seedlings in the soil incorporated with the powder decreased over time. It is suggested that itchgrass releases phytotoxic compound(s) into soil water and the concentration of the active compound(s) in the soil water decreases over time.     

Factors affecting phytotoxic activity of allelochemicals in soil

Allelopathy is the inhibitory or stimulatory effect of a plant (donor) on other plants (receivers) through the chemicals released from the donor plant to the environment, mostly into the soil. These chemicals may reach the receiver plants in various ways, including leaching from plant foliage, exudation from the roots, and decomposition of dead residue of the donor plants. However, allelopathy in soil is a complicated phenomenon that is affected by soil condition, growth condition of the donor and receiver plants and climatic condition. Allelochemicals in soil are adsorbed on soil solids, and metabolized by chemical and biological reactions during the movement in soil. This behavior is affected by various soil factors, such as soil texture, organic and inorganic matter, moisture and organisms, which affect the phytotoxic activity in soil. If an allelochemical can directly affect the growth of receiver plants in soil, then the allelochemical might be present in the soil water so that it is directly available for absorption by the plant. Thus, it is suggested the concentration of an allelochemical in soil water is a dominant factor directly determining the phytotoxic activity in soil, and the concentration is controlled by soil factors that affect the behavior of adsorption, desorption and degradation in soil.     

Role of underground parts of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi) in its sensitivity to thenylchlor in soil

In the present study, the phytotoxic activity of top-soil applied with thenylchlor [2-chloro- N -(3-methoxy-2-thieny)-2',6'-dimethylacetanilide] on the growth of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) was dependent on the emergence depth in soil but its activity on barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi) was only slightly affected by the emergence depth. However, the phytotoxic activity on barnyardgrass and rice was similar irrespective of the different emergence depths in its treatment to all soil layers. Thenylchlor treatment to the mesocotyl of barnyardgrass induced significant inhibition of shoot elongation, whereas the treatment to the coronal root only inhibited the coronal elongation without inhibiting shoot elongation. Absorption and translocation of ¹⁴C-thenylchlor in barnyardgrass were determined in water culture. The different amounts of radioactivity per plant among the treatments to the underground parts were due to the plant part that came in contact with ¹⁴C-thenylchlor. The radioactivity per dry weight was found to be higher in the basal part of the shoot than in its upper part in all treatments to the underground parts. It was suggested that the phytotoxic activity of thenylchlor on the growth of barnyardgrass in soil is induced by its accumulation in the basal part of the shoot through translocation. This primarily occurs after the absorption substantially by the mesocotyl from the herbicide-treated layer and additionally by other underground parts.     

Allelopathy in the rhizosphere and amended soil of Chenopodium murale L.

Soil infested with Chenopodium murale and amended with it were investigated to verify their allelopathic effects on seedling emergence and some growth and physiological parameters of five test species, Trifolium alexandrinum, Triticum aestivum, Melilotus indicus, lycopersicum esculentum and Cucumus sativus. The two types of soil exhibited phytotoxic effects on the seedling emergence of the test species. Growth and physiological parameters were significantly inhibited when the soil was amended with a high concentration of C. murale tissues. Soil amended with shoot tissue had more inhibitory effects than soil amended with root tissue, at the same concentration. M. indicus was more inhibited than the other species in relation to leaf area, dry matter, pigment, carbohydrates and protein contents.     

Potential of barnyard grass to remediate arsenic‐contaminated soil

The present study investigated the arsenic (As) remediation potential of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus‐galli L. Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi), with a special focus on the behavior of As in the soil in comparison with rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). For both plants, very little growth inhibition was observed in the As‐contaminated soil. The amount of As in the soil was reduced by the plant's uptake and the level of As in the soil water from the rice‐growing pots was remarkably lower than that in the plant‐free soil water. In the soil with the barnyard grass, the amount of As in the soil water was higher than that in the plant‐free soil water, but the amount of As in the soil and the amount of As that was adsorbed on the soil solid were reduced by the plant's uptake. At the highest As level in the soil (100 mg kg^?1), 249.60 and 101.26 µg As pot^?1 were taken up by the rice shoot and barnyard grass shoot, respectively, and total amounts of 1468.65 and 1060.57 µg As pot^?1 were taken up by the barnyard grass and rice seedlings, respectively. At the same As level in the soil, the As concentrations were 14.99 and 37.76 µg g^?1 in the shoot of barnyard grass and rice, respectively, and 486.61 and 339.32 µg g^?1 in the root of barnyard grass and rice, respectively. Barnyard grass took up more As than rice, but the As concentration in the shoot of barnyard grass was lower than that in the shoot of rice. A considerable amount of As was taken up by both barnyard grass and rice, suggesting that the plant species have the potential to remediate As‐contaminated soil.     

秸秆还田对东北黑土水分特征及物理性质的影响

为明确秸秆还田对东北黑土水分特征及物理性质的影响,设置秸秆覆盖还田（FG）、秸秆翻埋还田（FM）和秸秆不还田翻耕(FD)3个处理,测定土壤含水量、水分特征曲线、容重、硬度、土壤三相比及结构稳定性等参数。结果表明：（1）秸秆覆盖还田可显著提高春季耕层（0~30 cm）土壤含水量,较秸秆不还田翻耕处理增幅为11.17%~150.84%;不同处理耕层土壤在水吸力中吸力段土壤含水量变化曲线平滑,秸秆覆盖还田处理具有较高的土壤持水性。（2）秸秆还田能显著提高土壤水分有效性,与秸秆不还田翻耕处理相比,秸秆覆盖还田处理0~10 cm土层土壤田间持水量提高4.85%~11.03%,土壤凋萎系数提高10.85%~18.00%;秸秆翻埋还田处理0~10 cm土层土壤重力水增加9.65%~80.73%。秸秆翻埋还田提升了土壤供水能力,土壤比水容量较秸秆不还田翻耕处理增加4.8%~10.0%。（3）与秸秆不还田翻耕处理相比,秸秆还田降低了收获后土壤紧实度,降低幅度为0.18~0.31 MPa;秸秆覆盖还田增加表层土壤容重,降低土壤孔隙度,促进三相结构趋于合理,显著增加土壤结构稳定性。（4）皮尔森相关分析表明,三相比R值与结构距离（r=0.73^*）、土壤容重（r=0.70^*）相关性显著,在一定范围内三相比R值的增加有利于改善并促进土壤结构稳定。综上可知,东北黑土农田实施秸秆还田是提高春季土壤含水量、增强土壤持水性、提升土壤供水能力、调节土壤紧实性、调控土壤三相比、改善土壤结构和提高土壤宜耕性的有效措施。     

保护性耕作下黑土水热动态研究

通过连续监测东北典型黑土耕作长期定位试验下的土壤含水量和温度,研究了保护性耕作措施下农田黑土水热动态规律。结果表明:免耕秸秆覆盖(NTS)可显著提高0~50 cm土层水分含量,其中免耕在0~20 cm土层平均土壤体积含水量最高值分别比少耕(RT)和传统(CT)高3%~10%,尤其是可提高作物播种期表层土壤含水量。0~10 cm土层深度范围内RT土壤温度均高于NTS和CT,其中5 cm土层土壤温度日平均最高值较NTS和CT分别高3.04℃和5.27℃。三种耕作措施下的水热动态表明,少耕是我国东北旱作黑土区最佳的保护性耕作措施。     

应用岩棉材料提高丘陵区经济林土壤水分保蓄能力

为缓解无灌溉丘陵区土壤季节性干旱问题,以岩棉为供试材料,通过室内模拟结合野外林地试验,研究了岩棉对不同质地土壤的增水潜力、岩棉水分扩散能力、岩棉材料对不同坡位土壤水分保蓄能力以及对山核桃林地土壤水分保蓄和油菜生长的影响,以期探索出一种新型实用的土壤水分保蓄技术。室内模拟试验结果表明,供试岩棉最大容积持水量为64.64%;分析了岩棉应用于松砂土、砂壤土、中壤土和轻粘土等4种不同质地土壤的保水潜力,土壤最大容积有效含水量分别增加54.02%、50.67%、41.41%和50.31%。将吸水饱和岩棉埋入风干土壤中,水分在垂直和水平方向均有扩散作用,并在一定时间内达到相对稳定状态。距岩棉垂直方向和水平方向5 cm处最高土壤含水量分别为27.89%和20.67%,10 cm处土壤最高含水量分别为13.13%和13.00%,由此建议,岩棉埋设位置距离根系不宜太远。林地试验表明,岩棉对红豆杉林地不同坡位土壤均能充分发挥水分保蓄作用,持续晴天无雨时,红豆杉林地上、下坡位土壤含水量顺序为岩棉附近岩棉地植物根附近无岩棉地(对照)。久旱和雨后山核桃林地岩棉附近土壤含水量比无岩棉地分别提高29.19%和23.39%(P0.05);油菜生长宽度范围为80 cm,岩棉保水影响范围是岩棉自身宽度的5倍之多;与无岩棉对照相比,埋设岩棉处油菜植株(开花期)的地茎、株高、叶面积和单株鲜重等指标分别提高了58.63%、62.85%、65.66%和44.51%(P0.05)。在土壤中合理使用岩棉材料是解决无灌溉丘陵区土壤季节性干旱问题的有效措施之一。     

Spatiotemporal variation and correlation of soil enzyme activities and soil physicochemical properties in canopy gaps of the Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China

The study of the heterogeneity of soil enzyme activities at different sampling locations in canopy gaps will help understand the influence mechanism of canopy gaps on soil ecological processes. In this paper, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of soil enzyme activities and soil physicochemical properties at different sampling locations (closed canopy, expanded edge, canopy edge, gap center) in different sampling time (December, February, April, June, August, and October) on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China. The results showed that soil catalase, cellulase, sucrase, and acid phosphatase activities were relatively high from June to October and low from December to April, and most of soil enzyme activities were higher at closed canopy than at gap center. Soil urease activity was high during December-February. The soil temperature reached the highest value during June-August and was relatively high at gap center in October, December, and February. Soil water content was significantly higher in December and April than in other months. Soil bulk density was higher at gap center than at closed canopy in December. Soil pH and soil electrical conductivity in most months were higher at closed canopy than at gap center. Soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, and soil total phosphorus were generally higher at gap center than at closed canopy. Furthermore, sampling time played a leading role in the dynamic change of soil enzyme activity. The key factors affecting soil enzyme activity were soil temperature and soil water content, which were governed by canopy gaps. These results provide important support for further understanding the influence mechanism of forest ecosystem management and conservation on the Tianshan Mountains.     

晋陕峡谷河流阶地枣林土壤水分有效性及干燥化分析

选取晋陕峡谷河流阶地枣林土壤作为研究对象,采用土壤水分有效性指标A_w、土壤干燥化强度指数（SDI）等,定量研究河流阶地0~500 cm土层土壤水分有效性及干燥化的空间差异。结果表明：不同阶地土壤水分有效性A_w具有显著性差异（P<0.05）,一级阶地（0.36）显著高于二级（0.08）和三级（0.14）阶地。不同深度土壤水分有效性差异为：0~200 cm土层土壤,除60~100 cm土层外,各层一级阶地显著高于二级、三级阶地（P<0.05）;110~300 cm、310~500 cm土层土壤水分有效性分别表现为一级阶地最低（最大值-0.06）和最高（最大值1.04）的水分状况(P<0.05)。对土壤水分有效性分级,一级阶地多处于无效水和富余水状态,二、三级阶地多处于难效水状态。200~500 cm土层土壤平均干燥化强度为：三级阶地（69.87%）>二级阶地（69.23%）>一级阶地（-24.78%）。综合考虑土壤水分相关指标及植被生长规律,河流三级阶地更适合枣树生长,而一级、二级阶地需加强灌溉管理,并增加适当的农艺措施才能满足枣树的正常生长发育条件。     

尾菜再生水灌溉对土壤酶活性与重金属含量的影响

为探究尾菜再生水灌溉对土壤酶活性和重金属含量的影响，采用室内土柱模拟试验，分别以尾菜再生水(VW)和自来水(TW)为灌溉水，设置充分灌溉(90%田间持水量，09FC)和非充分灌溉(70%田间持水量，07FC)2个灌水水平，以18 d为1个灌水周期，累计灌溉16期，分别在第72、144、216、288 d进行分层取样，测定土壤过氧化氢酶(CAT)、脲酶(UE)、蔗糖酶(IA)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性及重金属(Pb、Zn、Cr、Cd、Cu)含量的时空变化特征，并对各处理进行相关性分析和潜在生态风险评价。结果显示，与TW-07FC处理相比，长期再生水非充分灌溉0～20 cm土层土壤UE、IA活性分别显著提高了31.36%和6.55%;与TW-09FC处理相比，再生水充分灌溉ALP活性显著提高了15.63%,CAT活性无显著性变化；随着灌溉次数的增加，再生水2个灌水水平均会增加土壤Pb、Cr、Zn含量，但增加效果不显著，土壤Cd含量与自来水灌溉相比无显著变化(P>0.05),土壤Cu含量有降低的趋势；由相关性分析可知，CAT活性与Cu、Zn含量呈极显著正相关关系(P<0.01);...     

不同耕作方式对黑土农田土壤水分及 利用效率的影响

在土壤耕作长期定位试验的基础上,研究了免耕秸秆覆盖(NT)和少耕(RT)对东北黑土区农田土壤水分及利用效率、玉米产量及特性的影响。结果表明:在作物生长季3种耕作措施土壤剖面含水量整体上呈先降低后增加的变化趋势,各时期20～40 cm土层含水量均较低。免耕可显著提高0～90 cm土层土壤含水量,90 cm土层以下三种措施土壤含水量差异逐渐降低,到190 cm土层差异不明显。土体储水量主要受降雨及不同耕作措施的影响,在干旱的春季以及降水量较少的秋季土体储水量较低,表现为:免耕>传统>少耕,而在降水量较大时土体储水量相应增加,表现为:少耕>免耕>传统。3种耕作措施下玉米叶面积指数变化趋势一致,总体表现为:传统>少耕>免耕,其中传统和少耕最高分别比免耕高0.22和0.26。在生长季少耕蒸散量最高。传统耕作玉米籽粒产量和水分利用效率分别较免耕和少耕高30%和17%,29%和11%,籽粒产量均存在显著性差异(P<0.05),表现为:传统>少耕>免耕,所以对于玉米而言,在该区不适宜实施免耕秸秆覆盖和少耕这两种保护性耕作体系。     

室内条件下土壤含水量对烟嘧磺隆消解的影响

采用高效液相色谱-紫外光谱(HPLC-UV)法,研究了烟嘧磺隆在不同含水量土壤中的消解动态,分析了土壤含水量对其消解的影响。土壤样品经V(乙腈)∶V(磷酸盐缓冲溶液)=1∶4提取,采用HPLC-UV法检测不同含水量的土壤中烟嘧磺隆的残留量。结果表明:在0.25~4 mg/L范围内,烟嘧磺隆峰面积与其质量浓度呈良好线性关系,相关系数为0.999 9。在0.05、0.25和1.25 mg/kg 3个添加水平下,烟嘧磺隆的回收率为91%~106%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为5.4%~9.5%。检出限(LOD)为0.012 mg/kg,定量限(LOQ)为0.04 mg/kg。当土壤含水量小于50%时,土壤水分含量变化对烟嘧磺隆消解的影响较小;当含水量大于50%时,烟嘧磺隆消解半衰期呈先增大后减小趋势,其中在含水量为60%和90%的土壤中消解最快,半衰期分别为19.7和18.6 d。     

RESIDUAL ACTIVITY OF PARAQUAT IN SOILS II. ADSORPTION AND DESORPTION

Glasshouse studies showed that low doses of paraquat inhibited the germination of Lolium perenne L. broadcast directly onto the paraquat-sprayed surfaces of a sphagnum and a peat soil, but that higher doses were necessary to produce phytotoxic symptoms on mineral soils, a compost and a loam. On all soils residual activity increased rapidly with increasing dose once the minimum phytotoxic dose was reached. On a sandy soil, residual activity increased almost linearly from the lowest to the highest dose applied. At 9·0, 4·5 and 2·24 kg/ha phytotoxicity on a compost was not affected by changes in the volume of application, but at 1·68 kg/ha and lower, reducing the volume from 562 1/ha to 281 and 112 1/ha resulted in increased phytotoxicity. Phytotoxic residues were eluted from paraquat-treated compost surfaces by percolating de-ionized water up soil columns but residual activity was not removed from the eluted surfaces. Surface irrigation of paraquat-treated surfaces with water previously percolated through columns of untreated soil reduced residual activity by 45%.