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

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

A VISUAL RECORD OF THE DECOMPOSITION OF 14C-LABELLED FRAGMENTS OF GRASSES AND RYE ADDED TO SOIL

The decomposition of grasses and rye labelled with ¹⁴C was studied using ground material and also fragments cut from intact leaves or roots either placed on the soil surface or buried in the soil incubated under various conditions. Autoradiography was used to observe the changes in the decaying plant tissue with a minimum of disturbance. Autoradiograms prepared before incubation and subsequently at intervals reveal an over-all fall in density of the images, a complete disappearance of ¹⁴C in small discrete sites, as well as a dispersion of ¹⁴C over distances of several cm from the plant residues. A photoelectric technique was devised by which changes in density could be expressed quantitatively. The log density of autoradiographic images of pellets of ground grasses shows a predominantly, though not completely, linear regression on time of incubation. The method has shown that the process of decomposition is very slow, that in the first stages of decomposition ryegrass decays faster than cocksfoot, and that ground material tends to behave in a different manner to fragments cut from intact tissues. Changes in the area of autoradiographic images with time of incubation could be used as an additional but less sensitive measure of the rate of decomposition. The participation of micro-organisms (especially fungi) in the breakdown of the plant tissues has been demonstrated by the presence of labelled organisms in the vicinity of plant residues. Labelled fungi are more numerous in the first 3 months of incubation, during which a marked fall in image density of the plant residues occurs. A further decrease in image density is frequently associated with the appearance of fungal resting structures with a greater concentration of ¹⁴C than the surrounding plant fragments. Because of their longevity these structures contribute to the fixing of ¹⁴C in a different fraction of the biomass. Faecal pellets of soil mesofauna also concentrate ¹⁴C and resist decomposition for very long periods of time.     

Specific microbial responses to herbicides*

Examples from the literature and from the authors’own laboratory demonstrate that herbicides can exert adverse effects on the soil micro-flora, depending on concentration, though often at higher rates than the herbicidal dose. Examples refer to changes in microbial growth (asulam, linuron, paraquat) and equilibrium (metoxuron), respiration and nitrification in samples from field experiments (linuron, simazine) and laboratory experiments (bentazone, glyphosate, barban, etc.), enzyme activities (urease, phosphatase; barban, chlorpropham, linuron) and the decay of sprayed vegetation (glyphosate, paraquat).     

The effect of herbicides on respiration and transformation of nitrogen in two soils I. Metribuzin and glyphosate

The effects of metribuzin and glyphosate at 100 ppm on carbon dioxide evolution and nitrogen transformation in two soils have been investigated in the laboratory. Both herbicides reduced CO2 evolution from Boddington Barn soil (organic carbon content 1.5%, pH 6.6) at some dates, but neither gave any consistent effects on Triangle soil (organic carbon content 4.0%, pH 5.1). Both metribuzin and glyphosate stimulated mineralization of nitrogen for at least 9 weeks. Only metribuzin on Triangle soil gave any indication of inhibition of nitrification. Metribuzin degraded more rapidly in Triangle soil than in Boddington Barn.     

Simultaneous assessment of various responses of the soil microflora to bentazone

The effect of bentazone at 10 and 100 ppm in two soils on microbial activities and populations was investigated for 32 weeks. The higher concentration caused reductions in carbon dioxide output and oxygen uptake in both soils, In soil I (pH 6.4, organic C 1.7%) an increase in total mineral nitrogen occurred throughout but in soil H (pH 5.6, organic C 3.7%) a reduction in both mineralization of nitrogen and nitrification was observed from week 22 onwards. In general, populations of fungi and actinomycetes were resistant to or stimulated by bentazone, especially in soil II at 100 ppm. With bacteria, including cellulolytic and spore formers, cellulolytic fungi and actinomycetes, there was some inhibition even at the low concentration, effects being more pronounced in soil II than in soil I. The herbicide at 20 ppm had very little effect on growth and morphology of four fungal species in pure culture. Residue analyses showed that bentazone degraded more rapidly in soil II than in soil I although appreciable effects occurred throughout the experiment in both soils. Evaluation simultanée de diverses réactions de la microflore du sol à la bentazone. L'effet de la bentazone à 10 et 100 ppm sur les activités et les populations microbiennes a étéétudié pendant 32 semaines. La concentration la plus forte a provoqué des réductions du dégagement de dioxyde de carbone et de l'absorption d'oxygéne dans les deux sols. Dans le sol I (pH 6,4, teneur en carbone organique 1,7%) un accroissement de I'azote mineral total s'est constamment manifesté, mais, dans le sol II (pH 5,6, teneur en carbone organique 3,7%) une réduction simultanée de la minéralisation de I'azote et de la nitrification a été observée a partir de la 22ème semaine. D'une façon générale, les populations de champignons et d'actinomycétes se sont montrées résistantes à la bentazone, ou même stimulées par elle, en particulier pour le sol II à la concentration de 100 ppm. Avec les bactéries, y compris les formes sporultés et cellulolytiques, les champignons cellulolytiques et les aainomycétes, il s'est produit une certaine inhibition même à la concentration faible, ces cffets étant plus prononcés dans le sol II que dam le sol I. L'herbicide à 20 ppm n'a eu qu'une trés faible action sur la croissance et la morphologie de quatre espéces de champignons en culture pure Des analyses de résidus ont montré que la bentazone s'est dégradée plus rapiderment dans le sol II que dans le sol I, bien que des effets appréciables soieni apparus dans toute l'expérience avec les deux sols. Gleichzeitige Erfassung verschiedener Reaktionen der Bodenmikroflora auf Bentazon Es wurde die Wirkung von Bentazon (10 und 100 ppm) über 32 Wochen auf die mikrobielle Aktivität und auf die Mikroorganismenpopulationen zweier Boden untersucht. Durch die höhere Konzentration ging in beiden Boden die Abgabe von Kohlendioxid und die Aufnahme von Sauerstoff zurück. Im Boden I (pH 6,4; org. C l,7%) wurde während der gesamten Versuchszeit ein Anstieg des mineralischen Stickstoffs festgestellt, während im Boden II (pH 5,6; org. C 3,7%) ein Rückgang in der Stickstoffmineralisierung und der Nitrifikation ab der 22. Woche zu beobachten war. Im allgemeinen waren die Pilz- und Actinomycetenpopulationen gegenüber Bentazon resistent oder sie wurden durch das Herbizid gefördert, besonders im Boden II bei 100 ppm. Beiden Bakterien, einschliesslich zellulolytischer und sporenbildender Arten, den zellulolytischen Pilzen und Actinomyceten wurde eine geringe Hemmung, sogar bei der niedrigen Konzentration, festgestellt. Diese Effekte waren im Boden II stärker als im Boden I ausgeprägt. In Reinkultur hatten 20 ppm Bentazon nur eine gennge Wirkung auf das Wachstum und die Morphologie von vier Pilzarten. Rückstandsuntersuchungen ergaben, dass Bentazon im Boden II schneller ais im Boden I abgebaut wurde, es kam aber in beiden Böden zu deutlichen Effekten.     

Effects of paraquat, aminotriazole and glyphosate on cellulose decomposition

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