Suppression of Rhizoctonia solani in Potting Mixtures Amended with Compost Made from Organic Household Waste

ABSTRACT Compost made from organic household and garden waste was used to substitute part of the peat in potting mixtures used for growing woody ornamental nursery stock. The effects of amendment with compost on the colonization of potting mixture by Rhizoctonia solani (AG1) were studied in greenhouse experiments. A bioassay was developed using cucumber as a sensitive herbaceous test plant as a substitute for woody ornamental cuttings. Pathogen growth in the potting mixture was estimated by measuring the distance over which damping-off of seedlings occurred. Compost from two commercial composting facilities suppressed growth of R. solani in potting mixtures with 20% of the product when the compost was fresh (directly after delivery) or long matured (after 5 to 7 months of additional curing). In contrast, short-matured compost (1 month of additional curing) from the same batches stimulated pathogen growth. In vitro mycelial growth of R. solani on mixtures with mature compost was inhibited by microbial antagonism. Compost-amended potting mixtures responded differentially to the addition of cellulose powder; the effect on suppressiveness depended on curing time and origin of the compost. In long-matured compost, suppressiveness to R. solani was associated with high population densities of cellulolytic and oligotrophic actinomycetes. The ratio of the population density of actinomycetes to that of other bacteria was around 200-fold higher in mature suppressive compost than in conducive compost.     

Compost and compost water extract-induced systemic acquired resistance in cucumber and Arabidopsis

ABSTRACT A biocontrol agent-fortified compost mix, suppressive to several diseases caused by soilborne plant pathogens, induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in cucumber against anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare and in Arabidopsis against bacterial speck caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola KD4326. A peat mix conducive to soilborne diseases did not induce SAR. The population size of P. syringae pv. maculicola KD4326 was significantly lower in leaves of Arabidopsis plants grown in the compost mix compared to those grown in the peat mix. Autoclaving destroyed the SAR-inducing effect of the compost mix, and inoculation of the autoclaved mix with nonautoclaved compost mix or Pantoea agglomerans 278A restored the effect, suggesting the SAR-inducing activity of the compost mix was biological in nature. Topical sprays with water extract prepared from the compost mix reduced symptoms of bacterial speck and the population size of pathogenic KD4326 in Arabidopsis grown in the peat mix but not in the compost mix. The peat mix water extract applied as a spray did not control bacterial speck on plants grown in either mix. Topical sprays with salicylic acid (SA) reduced the severity of bacterial speck on plants in the peat mix but did not further reduce the severity of symptoms on plants in the compost mix. The activity of the compost water extract was heat-stable and passed through a 0.2-mum membrane filter. beta-1,3-Glucanase activity was low in cucumber plants grown in either mix, but when infected with C. orbiculare, this activity was induced to significantly higher levels in plants grown in the compost mix than in plants grown in the peat mix. Similar results were obtained for beta-D-glucuronidase (GUS) activity driven by a PR2 (beta-1,3-glucanase) gene promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis plants grown in the compost or peat mix. GUS activity was induced with topical sprays of the compost water extract or SA in plants not inoculated with the pathogen, suggesting that compost-induced disease suppression more than likely involved the potentiation of resistance responses rather than their activation and that compost-induced SAR differed from SAR induced by pathogens, SA, or compost water extract.     

超高效液相色谱法检测啶虫脒在工厂化双孢蘑菇栽培中的残留

采用超高效液相色谱法(UPLC-PDA)测定了双孢蘑菇及其覆土和培养料中啶虫脒的残留量,研究了啶虫脒在工厂化双孢蘑菇栽培中的残留规律。样品以乙腈提取,分散固相萃取净化,超高效液相色谱测定。结果表明:在0.02~3mg/kg3个添加水平下,啶虫脒在双孢蘑菇、覆土和培养料3种基质中的平均添加回收率为81%~97%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为5.7%~9.6%。在不同施药水平下,啶虫脒在覆土和培养料中的消解动态均符合一级动力学指数方程,平均半衰期分别为34和23d。覆土单独施药后啶虫脒会向培养料迁移,培养料内的啶虫脒残留量总体先升高后降低。随覆土或培养料中啶虫脒施药剂量的增加,双孢蘑菇中啶虫脒的残留量随之增加,当啶虫脒在覆土或培养料中的施药量有效成分在10~250mg/kg之间时,双孢蘑菇子实体中啶虫脒的残留量在0.03~2.6mg/kg之间,且第一潮、第二潮和第三潮菇间残留量存在显著差异。同一处理剂量下,覆土单独施药后蘑菇中啶虫脒的残留量显著高于培养料单独施药后蘑菇中的残留量。     

Suppression of Seedling Damping-Off Caused by Pythium ultimum, P. irregulare, and Rhizoctonia solani in Container Media Amended with a Diverse Range of Pacific Northwest Compost Sources

ABSTRACT Suppression of seedling damping-off disease caused by Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani is a potential benefit of formulating soilless container media with compost. Thirty-six compost samples from Pacific Northwest commercial composting facilities were analyzed for a number of physical, chemical, and biological properties, including suppression of damping-off caused by Pythium ultimum, P. irregulare, and R. solani. The samples were produced from diverse feedstocks and composting technol ogies; this was reflected in a large degree of variability in the measured properties. When mixed with sphagnum peat moss and inorganic aggregates, 67% of the compost samples significantly suppressed P. irregulare damping-off of cucumber, 64% suppressed P. ultimum damping-off of cucumber, and 17% suppressed damping-off of cabbage caused by R. solani. Suppression of Pythium damping-off was related to the potential of compost to support microbial activity and a qualitative index of ammonia volatilization. Suppression of Rhizoctonia damping-off was not related to any one compost factor. Currently available compost products potentially could provide commercially acceptable control of damping-off caused by Pythium spp., but it is necessary to fortify composts with microbial antagonists for the control of R. solani.     

Compost Tea as a Container Medium Drench for Suppressing Seedling Damping-Off Caused by Pythium ultimum

ABSTRACT Compost tea is being used increasingly in agricultural production to control plant diseases. However, there has been limited investigation relating disease control efficacy to various compost tea production methods, particularly compost tea produced with active aeration and additives to increase microbial population densities in compost tea. Aerated compost tea (ACT) and nonaerated compost tea (NCT), produced with or without additives, was investigated for the suppression of damping-off of cucumber caused by Pythium ultimum. Compost tea was used to drench soilless container medium inoculated with P. ultimum; effect on damping-off ranged from not suppressive to consistently suppressive depending on the method used to produce the tea. The most consistent formulation for damping-off suppression was ACT produced with kelp and humic acid additives. Producing ACT with a molasses-based additive inconsistently suppressed damping-off; evidence suggests that residual nutrients can interfere with disease suppression. Heating or diluting compost tea negated suppression. Across all compost tea samples, there was no significant relationship of bacterial populations, measured as active cells, total cells, or CFU, to disease suppression. However, for all ACT produced without the molasses-based additive, there was a threshold of bacterial population density (6 log(10) active cells per ml, 7.48 log(10) total cells per ml, or 7 log(10) CFU per ml) above which compost teas were suppressive.     

A mini-bag technique for evaluation of fungicide effects on Trichoderma spp in mushroom compost

An in vivo technique was developed to observe colonisation of mushroom compost by Trichoderma spp. Isolates of T. harzianum (Th2), T. harzianum (Th1), T. koningii (Tk) and T. viride (Tv) were artificially introduced into compost using a mini-bag system. Wheat grains, colonised by Trichoderma spp, were placed centrally on a layer of compost at the bottom of 1-litre polythene bags which were then filled with 350 g of spawned or un-spawned compost, and partially sealed. After 14 and 21 days incubation at 27 degrees C, the bags were assessed for recovery of Trichoderma from middle and top zones using a needle stab re-isolation technique and a visual colonisation scoring system. Visible green mould contamination, similar to that observed in practice, developed within 21 days. The visual colonisation scoring was reliably related to the re-isolation success. In this evaluation, Trichoderma spp showed considerable differences in their relative abilities to colonise spawned and un-spawned compost, with Th2 isolates being consistently superior to the other isolates of Th1, Tk and Tv in colonising spawned compost. This technique was employed to evaluate the effects of fungicides on the colonisation of mushroom compost by three Trichoderma spp: Th2, Th1 and Tk, using 1-litre and 5-litre mini-bag systems. Aqueous suspensions of benomyl, carbendazim, thiabendazole, prochloraz and prochloraz+carbendazim incorporated into the compost at 50 mg litre(-1), or applied to spawn at 50 mg kg(-1), reduced the colonisation by Trichoderma spp. Prochloraz and prochloraz+carbendazim were superior to benomyl, carbendazim or thiabendazole in reducing compost colonisation by Th2, Th1 and Tk, with Th2 being the most persistent type, capable of colonising treated compost in the presence of all five fungicides. The prochloraz+carbendazim mixture, not normally used in mushroom production, was equal to or better than prochloraz alone. The incidence of green mould colonisation by Th2 was as extensive in the 5-litre compost bags as in the 1-litre bags, but colonisation by Th1 and Tk was more apparent in the 5-litre bags. The in vivo mini-bag evaluations using wheat grain Trichoderma inoculum and needle stab re-isolation procedures proved an efficient method for studying colonisation and screening for effectiveness of fungicides applied to mushroom compost or spawn.     

The interdependent effects of solar disinfestation and compost maturity level on soil microbial activity

The combined effects of soil solarization and application of compost of various maturity levels upon soil microbial activity were studied under field conditions during 2010–2012. Eight treatments were divided into solarized and non-solarized treatments, and each was either non-amended or annually amended with compost at 6 kg (DW) m^-2. The composts were mature, partially mature, or immature. In all three tested parameters of microbial activity (respiration rate, heat output, and dehydrogenase activity) the immature compost showed higher activity than the other compost types. Soil samples were collected weekly in order to assess microbial activity, which was evaluated from measurements of soil respiration rate, heat output, and dehydrogenase activity. Significant and year-to-year reproducible differences in all three parameters were observed between soils amended with the three compost types. Some residual (carry-over) effects of previous-year treatments were obtained. Microbial activity decreased in both solarized and non-solarized treatments during the experimental period, probably because of increasing summer temperatures, but the decline was sharper in the solarized treatments probably due to oxygen deficiency under the tarp. Significantly higher activity was found in the treatments amended with the immature compost, both in the solarized and non-solarized treatments. This could be a result of the high level of dissolved organic matter in the immature compost, which enhanced microbial activity.     

堆肥提取液诱导草莓对黄萎病抗性及抑菌机理研究

为了明确菌糠堆肥提取液的生物防治效果,进一步探讨其抑菌防病机理,以便于有针对性地利用堆肥提取液达到防病、治病的效果。采用体内和体外2种试验方法,以草莓黄萎病菌为靶标病原菌,研究了堆肥提取液原液、高温灭菌液和过滤除菌液对大丽轮枝菌菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发的抑制作用,通过温室盆栽试验验证其对草莓黄萎病的防病促生效果,并测定根施堆肥提取液对草莓叶片内防御酶系的影响。研究表明,堆肥提取液对病原菌菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发均有显著的抑制作用,抑制率分别为92.43%和82.94%,经高温灭菌和过滤除菌后抑制效果显著降低。盆栽试验结果表明,预先用堆肥提取液灌根处理对草莓黄萎病的防治效果高达42.23%,且能诱导草莓叶片内防御酶活性显著增强,接病原菌后第6 d该处理下的POD和PPO活性分别比施清水对照提高了45.45%和39.47%,而MDA含量则下降了14.83%。说明微生物对病原菌的直接抑制作用以及诱导系统抗性是菌糠堆肥提取液发挥抑菌防病功效的主要因素。     

沤肥浸渍液对黄瓜霜霉病的抑制作用及其机理

本文报道在温室条件下堆沤半年以上的各种家畜粪肥浸渍液对黄瓜霜霉病的防治效果及其机理初步研究,经3次重复试验得出:马粪沤肥浸渍液对黄瓜霜霉病的平均抑制率为67.33％,牛粪沤肥浸渍液对黄瓜霜霉病的平均抑制率为66.10％,羊粪、猪粪沤肥浸渍液也分别对黄瓜霜霉病有一定的抑制作用,但低于马粪、牛粪。马粪、羊粪沤肥浸渍液经100℃高温2h灭活后对黄瓜霜霉病仍有抑制作用,且抑制效果高于相应非灭活的沤肥浸渍液。经沤肥浸渍液处理的植株,叶绿素含量和过氧化氢酶活性均比对照明显增高,致使黄瓜抗病性增强。     

Effect of compost and casing treatments of insecticides against the sciarid Bradysia ocellaris (Diptera: Sciaridae) and on the total yield of cultivated mushrooms,Agaricus bisporus

BACKGROUND: Bradysia ocellaris (Comstock) is one of the major pests of cultivated mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. The feeding of sciarid fly larvae causes damage to the cultivation substrates, compost and casing. A comparative study of insecticidal treatments incorporated into compost and casing against B. ocellaris was conducted during 2003–2004. Treatments with an organophosphate, diazinon, a pyrazole, fipronil, and an insect growth regulator (IGR), triflumuron, were incorporated into casing. Another IGR, cyromazine, was incorporated into compost. Insecticidal incorporation into compost and casing has been associated with reductions in mushroom yield. Therefore, the effect of these insecticidal treatments on the overall yield was evaluated. RESULTS: A combined treatment, incorporation of cyromazine at 10 mg kg^?1 into compost and of triflumuron at 20 mg kg^?1 into casing, provided 100% control against B. ocellaris. There was no apparent reduction in yield as a result of incorporation of the tested chemicals into either compost or casing. CONCLUSION: The results obtained from this study suggest that incorporation of insecticides into both compost and casing is required to control a moderate to high pressure of insect pests. There were no significant yield reductions as a result of the incorporation of pesticides in the Australian mushroom‐growing system. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

甲磺隆污染土壤生物修复的初步探索

以14C-甲磺隆为例,通过投加优选菌株青霉(Penicillium sp.)和发酵有机肥,研究了污染土壤中甲磺隆除草剂的生物修复。结果显示,加入优选菌株Penicillium sp.或有机肥对甲磺隆污染土壤进行生物修复是可行的,Penicillium sp.或有机肥的引入,显著提高了土壤中甲磺隆残留物的降解速率,并大大减少了土壤中结合态甲磺隆残留物的形成,甲磺隆的降解半衰期由162.3 d降至42.5~51.6 d,56 d时其结合残留率仅为1.1%~4.6%,而对照土壤中结合残留率仍达到35.6%。     

Microbial-induced carbon competition in the spermosphere leads to pathogen and disease suppression in a municipal biosolids compost

The aim of this study was to understand whether competition for fatty acids in plant seed exudates by compost-derived seed-colonizing microbial communities could explain the suppression of plant infections initiated by sporangia of Pythium ultimum. The germination behavior of P. ultimum sporangia in response to cucumber seeds was measured to determine the impact of seed-colonizing microbes on pathogen suppression. Seed-colonizing microbial communities from municipal biosolids compost utilized cucumber seed exudates and linoleic acid in vitro, reducing the respective stimulatory activity of these elicitors to P. ultimum sporangial germination. However, when sporangia were observed directly in the spermosphere of seeds sown in the compost medium, levels of germination and sporangial emptying did not differ from the responses in sand. The percentage of aborted germ tubes was greater after incubating sporangia in compost medium for 12-h than the level of germ tube abortion when sporangia were incubated in sand. Abortion did not occur if previously germinated sporangia were supplemented with cucumber seed exudate. Furthermore, removal of cucumber seed exudate after various stages of germ tube emergence resulted in an increase in aborted germ tubes over time. Adding increasing levels of glucose directly to the compost medium alleviated germ tube abortion in the spermosphere and also eliminated disease suppression. These data fail to support a role for linoleic acid competition in Pythium seedling disease suppression but provide evidence for general carbon competition mediated by seed-colonizing microbial communities as a mechanism for the suppression of Pythium seed infections in municipal biosolids compost.     

家畜沤肥浸渍液对黄瓜枯萎病的防治及作用机理探析

 家畜沤肥浸渍液对黄瓜枯萎病具有一定的防治效果,猪粪、马粪和牛粪沤肥浸渍液的防治效果分别为58.9%~92.5%、18.6%~72.1%和38.5%~72.8%。机理研究结果表明:(1)沤肥浸渍液对黄瓜枯萎病菌的小孢子萌发具有明显的抑制效果,马粪、牛粪、猪粪沤肥浸渍原液的抑制率分别达到89.4%、98.6%和90.3%,抑制率随稀释度增加而减小;(2)沤肥浸渍液中的部分微生物对黄瓜枯萎菌具有一定的拮抗作用。     

堆肥替代化肥对玉米产量和水分利用效率的影响

本试验研究了河西绿洲灌区在堆肥施用量为30 000 kg·hm~(-2)和60 000 kg·hm~(-2),替代化肥用量10%、20%和30%时对玉米产量和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,在不同堆肥用量条件下,替代化肥处理均较对照提高了玉米产量和水分利用效率;其中,堆肥用量60 000 kg·hm~(-2),替代化肥用量30%的平均3年玉米经济产量和水分利用效率均最高,分别为16 609.02 kg·hm~(-2)和25.08 kg·mm~(-1)·hm~(-2),较对照分别提高29%和23.73%。因此,在堆肥施用量为60 000 kg·hm~(-2),传统化肥减量30%时,玉米的增产和节水效果最佳,为河西绿洲灌区堆肥替代化肥的最佳施用量。     

Cytological aspects of compost-mediated induced resistance against fusarium crown and root rot in tomato

ABSTRACT The potential of a pulp and paper mill residues compost for the control of crown and root rot of greenhouse-grown tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici was ultrastructurally investigated. Peat moss amended with compost substantially reduced disease-associated symptoms. Addition of Pythium oligandrum to either peat moss alone or peat moss amended with compost resulted in a considerable reduction in disease incidence compared with controls grown in peat moss alone. Histological and cytological observations of root samples from Fusarium-inoculated plants revealed that the beneficial effect of compost in reducing disease symptoms is associated with increased plant resistance to fungal colonization. One of the most prominent facets of compost-mediated induced resistance concerned the formation of physical barriers at sites of attempted fungal penetration. These structures, likely laid down to prevent pathogen ingress toward the vascular elements, included callose-enriched wall appositions and osmiophilic deposits around the sites of potential pathogen ingress. Invading hyphae, coated by the osmiophilic material, showed marked cellular disorganization. The use of the wheat germ agglutinin-ovomucoid-gold complex provided evidence that the wall-bound chitin was altered in severely damaged hyphae. A substantial increase in the extent and magnitude of the cellular changes induced by compost was observed when P. oligandrum was supplied to the potting substrate. This finding corroborates the current concept that amendment of composts with specific antagonists may be a valuable option for amplifying their beneficial properties in terms of plant disease suppression.     

Evaluation of different types of compost tea to control rose powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae)

Powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae) is an important foliar disease which is found in all rose-producing greenhouses. An experiment was carried out in a commercial greenhouse in Hashtgerd, Iran, in 2014 to investigate whether compost teas can be used to control this disease. Taguchi's design of experiment (Taguchi's DOE) method was used to plan a minimum number of experiments and optimization to control rose powdery mildew. The test included three factors, namely the different types of compost tea (aerated and non-aerated compost tea, aerated and non-aerated vermicompost tea), the dosage (1:8 and 1:16, compost:water), and the number of spray applications (once and twice per week). The experiment was set up as an orthogonal array L₈ with three replicates. Based on the experimental results, the optimum treatment combination for controlling rose powdery mildew was found to be aerated compost tea with 1:8 dilution with an application of twice per week.     

Inactivation of Macrophomina phaseolina Propagules during Composting and Effect of Composts on Dry Root Rot Severity and on Seed Yield of Clusterbean

Survival of a heat-tolerant pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina, causing dry root rot of clusterbean, was studied by incorporation and retrieval of infected residue samples at various stages of the composting process of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) residues. During the heating phase, temperatures varied from 48–51°C at 30cm and 60–62°C at 60cm depth in compost pits. Reduction in survival of M. phaseolina propagules (13–23%) was significantly higher in the residues enriched with 4% urea-N and kept at 60cm compared to 2% urea-N and at 30cm. However, a heat phase (48–62°C) was not enough to completely eradicate M. phaseolina propagules from infected residues. Further reductions (54–61%) in survived propagules were achieved by sub-lethal temperatures (48–53°C) when moistened compost materials were exposed to heat during summer days. Beneficial effects of composts were ascertained on dry root rot intensity, seed yield of clusterbean and densities of M. phaseolina, Nitrosomonas and antagonists in soil. In a two-year field study, all the composts significantly reduced plant mortality due to dry root rot and increased the yield of clusterbean. The highest disease suppression and yield promotion were recorded in soil amended with pearl millet compost and cauliflower leaf residue compost, respectively. Soil amendment with compost also lead to a significant reduced density of M. phaseolina and an increased density of antagonistic actinomycetes, lytic bacteria and Nitrosomonas. Among composts, greater potential of cauliflower compost in enhancing population of antagonists in soil was discernible.     

Field management effects on damping-off and early season vigor of crops in a transitional organic cropping system

Transitioning farmland to certified organic vegetable production can take many paths, each varying in their costs and benefits. Here, the effects of four organic transition strategies (i.e., tilled fallowing, mixed-species hay, low-intensity vegetables, and intensive vegetable production under high tunnels), each with and without annual compost applications for 3 years prior to assessment, were characterized. Although transition cropping strategies differed in soil chemistry (P < 0.05), the magnitude of the changes typically were marginal and pairwise comparisons were rarely significant. In contrast, the compost amendment had a much greater impact on soil chemistry regardless of cropping strategy. For example, percent C and total P increased by 2- to 5-fold and K increased from 6- to 12-fold. Under controlled conditions, damping-off of both edamame soybean (cv. Sayamusume) and tomato (cv. Tiny Tim) was reduced from 2 to 30% in soils from the mixed-hay transition. In the field, damping-off of both crops was also significantly lower in plots previously cropped to hay (P < 0.05). Although not always significant (P < 0.05), this pattern of suppression was observed in all four of the soybean experiments and three of the four tomato experiments independent of compost application. The compost amendments alone did not consistently suppress damping-off. However, plant height, fresh weight, and leaf area index of the surviving seedlings of both crops were greater in the compost-amended soils regardless of the transitional cropping treatment used (P < 0.05 for most comparisons). These data indicate that mixed-hay cropping during the transition periods can enhance soil suppressiveness to damping-off. In addition, although compost amendments applied during transition can improve crop vigor by significantly enhancing soil fertility, their effects on soilborne diseases are not yet predictable when transitioning to certified organic production.     

Adsorption and degradation of thiazopyr in compost‐amended and non‐amended soils

Adsorption and degradation of thiazopyr on two unamended soils and a soil amended annually during 8 years with compost were studied under laboratory conditions and compared with the results obtained on soils amended with fresh sewage sludge compost. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Freundlich equation well and a marked sorption increase was found in amended soils. Degradation data followed first‐order kinetics and thiazopyr had a half‐life of about 75 days at 25 °C and 60% water‐holding capacity of soil. The addition of fresh compost markedly decreased the rate of thiazopyr degradation, whereas the compost mineralised in the field after annual additions had only a small influence. Incubation studies with sterile soils showed a very significant decrease of the degradation rate, indicating that degradation by micro‐organisms was the main pathway of thiazopyr degradation in the soils studied. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

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%.