Degradation of [14C]Terbuthylazine and [14C]Atrazine in Laboratory Soil Microcosms

The degradation and formation of major chlorinated metabolites of terbuthylazine and atrazine in three soils (loamy clay, calcareous clay and high clay) were studied in laboratory experiments using molecules labelled with ¹⁴C on the s-triazine ring. Soil microcosms were treated with the equivalent of 1 kg ha^-1 of herbicide and incubated in the dark for 45 days at 20(±1)°C. The quantity of [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide evolved in the soils treated with atrazine was negligible and could not be attributed to mineralization of the parent molecule. The mineralization of terbuthylazine accounted for 0·9–1·2% of the initial radioactivity. In the soils studied, the extrapolated half-lives varied from 88 to 116 days for terbuthylazine and 66 to 105 days for atrazine, with no significant differences for the three soils and the two molecules. The deethyl metabolites of the two s-triazines and the deisopropyl-atrazine metabolite appeared during the incubation in the three soils. The completely dealkylated metabolite was not detected in any of the soils. After 45 days of incubation, the non-extractable soil residues for the high clay, loamy clay and calcareous clay soils represented for terbuthylazine, 33·5, 38·3 and 43·1% and for atrazine, 19·8, 20·8 and 22·3% of the initial radioactivity. © 1997 SCI.     

Gradual Fall of s-Triazine Herbicides in Drinking and Wastewater Samples as Influenced by Light and Temperature

The effect of light and temperature on the dissipation of four s-triazine herbicides (terbuthylazine, simazine, atrazine and prometryn) was studied in drinking and wastewaters during long-term laboratory incubation (4 months), and by comparing the results with those obtained in purified water (Milli-Q). Residues were analyzed by GC-NPD and confirmed by GC-MSD. A micro on-line method for isolating the herbicide residues was used. The results showed that temperature and light had a certain influence on the behaviour of the s-triazine herbicides. In drinking water, prometryn dissipated more rapidly than the other compounds under all laboratory conditions (t _1/2= 75–128 days), while atrazine showed the highest degree of persistence (t _1/2= 132–227 days). In general, atrazine was the least (t _1/2= 90–142 days) and simazine the most (t _1/2= 118–278 days) persistent compound in Milli-Q and wastewater. Only in the case of atrazine in drinking water was the remaining percentage at the end of the experiment higher than 50% (53–69%). Dissolved organic substances in wastewater (DOC, 53.3 mg l^–1) appear to be particularly important in the photosensitization process. The time required to reach the maximum admissible concentration (MAC) according to European legislation (0.1 g l^–1) ranged from 3 to 10 years for prometryn and atrazine, respectively, in drinking water depending on the used conditions.     

Persistence and leaching of the herbicides acetochlor and terbuthylazine in an allophanic soil: comparisons of field results with PRZM‐3 predictions

Rates of degradation and adsorption of acetochlor [2‐chloro‐N‐ethoxymethyl‐6′‐ethylaceto‐o‐ toluidide] and terbuthylazine [N ²‐tert‐butyl‐6‐chloro‐N⁴‐ethyl‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4‐diamine] in a Horotiu sandy loam soil (Typic Orthic Allophanic) were determined under controlled temperature and soil moisture regimes. These were then combined with site‐specific soil properties and climatic conditions in the Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM‐3) to predict dissipation and leaching of the herbicides in the field. PRZM‐3 significantly under‐estimated dissipation of both herbicides in the field using parameters derived from the laboratory incubation studies. When these parameters were derived from the field trials, PRZM‐3 adequately predicted dissipation of both herbicides using a two‐rate dissipation sub‐model but under‐predicted the dissipation when a simpler single‐rate sub‐model was used. Earlier‐than‐expected appearance of both herbicides in sub‐soil layers were postulated to result from the non‐equilibrium adsorption/transport of the herbicides and preferential flow, which cannot be simulated by PRZM‐3. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Run-off transport of herbicides during natural and simulated rainfall and its reduction by vegetated filter strips

The efficiency of filter strips in protecting watercourses against herbicides in run‐off was evaluated in field experiments in western Germany. Surface run‐off caused by natural rainfall and related transport of metolachlor, terbuthylazine and pendimethalin were measured on plots of 40 m length without filter strips (F0), and after passing over three types of herbicide‐untreated field margin: 12 m conservation headland (CH12), 6 m (GF6) and 12 m grass strips (GF12). Run‐off was also measured after simulated rainfall on 7 m long plots without (F0) and with 3 m grass strips (GF3). All three herbicides were transported both in dissolved and in adsorbed forms; the partitioning depended on their water solubility with metolachlor and terbuthylazine mainly translocated in dissolved form (F0: highest mean concentrations for a natural run‐off event 721 and 220 μg L^?1, respectively). Pendimethalin was predominantly transported in adsorbed form (maximum mean concentration 11.2 μg L^?1). In the sediment, the highest mean herbicide contents in a single natural event (F0) accounted for 2294 μg kg^?1 (metolachlor), 1317 μg kg^?1 (terbuthylazine) and 5648 μg kg^?1 (pendimethalin). The proportions of applied herbicide translocated were 0.3% (metolachlor), 0.2% (terbuthylazine) and 0.06% (pendimethalin; F0, natural rainfall). The extent of herbicide transport decreased with time but within this trend soil sealing, soil moisture and amount and intensity of rainfall increased losses. Compared with the F0 plots, the reduction of herbicide translocation after natural rainfall reached 80–83% (CH12), 80–88% (GF6) and >99% (GF12) over the 3‐year period. The 12 m grass strips allowed only one extreme run‐off event to pass through, thus providing a highly effective watercourse protection against herbicide pollution.     

特丁津与扑草净、莠去津活性比较

温室盆栽条件下,以扑苹净、莠去津分别为对照药剂,研究了特丁津对马唐（Digitaria sanguinalis）、反枝苋（Amaranthus retroflexus）、马齿苋（Portulaca olercea）和稗草（Echinochloa crus-galli）的除草活性。结果表明：3种除草对阔叶杂草的防效都优于对禾本科杂草的防效．特丁津对马唐、稗草、反枝苋、马齿苋4种杂草的防治效果都高于莠去津和扑草净。     

Influence of different field sites on pesticide movement into subsurface drains

Pesticide movement to subsurface drains was monitored in two typical crop production areas in Germany. Field trials were conducted on two subsurfacedrained soils, a silt loam and a poorly structured sandy soil, under different climatic conditions. Over a period of one year, the drainflow was measured and the drain water was analysed for all applied herbicides. Different leaching behaviour was observed at the two field sites. Following autumn application of pendimethalin and isoproturon to the Soester Börde soil, maximum concentrations of about 62 μg litre^?1 for isoproturon and 0.7 μg litre^?1 for pendimethalin were observed in drainflow from this silt loam. The early occurrence of both herbicides in the drain water only two days after application is consistent with fast flow through macropores. In contrast, on the subsurfacedrained sandy soil in Brandenburg, isoproturon did not reach the drains until two months after autumn application and was found at maximum concentrations of only 1.4 μg litre^?1; pendimethalin was not detected in the drain water. Pesticide movement after spring application seemed to be of minor importance. At both locations, spring application led to low concentrations of pesticides in the drainflow (pendimethalin < 0.01 μ litre^?1; metolachlor ? 0.05 μ litre^?1; chloridazon ? 0.15 μ litre^?1; metamitron ? 0.02 μg litre^?1; terbuthylazine ? 1.4 μ litre^?1).     

Degradation and adsorption of terbuthylazine and chlorpyrifos in biobed biomixtures from composted cotton crop residues

BACKGROUND: Biobeds have been well studied in northern Europe, whereas little is known regarding their use in southern Europe. The degradation and adsorption of terbuthylazine (TA) and chlorpyrifos (CP) were studied in three different biomixtures composed of composted cotton crop residues, soil and straw in various proportions, and also in sterilised and non‐sterilised soil. RESULTS: Compost biomixtures degraded the less hydrophobic TA at a faster rate than soil, while the opposite was evident for the more hydrophobic CP. These results were attributed to the rapid abiotic hydrolysis of CP in the alkaline soil (pH 8.5) compared with the lower pH of the compost (6.6), but also to the increasing adsorption (K_d = 746 mL g^?1) and reduced bioavailability of CP in the biomixtures compared with soil (K_d = 17 mL g^?1), as verified by the adsorption studies. CONCLUSIONS: Compost had a dual but contrasting effect on degradation that depended on the chemical nature of the pesticide studied: a positive effect towards TA owing to increasing biodegradation and a negative effect towards CP owing to increasing adsorption. Overall, composted cotton crop residues could be potentially used in local biobed systems in Greece, as they promoted the degradation of hydrophilic pesticides and the adsorption of hydrophobic pesticides. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

The effect of root-absorbed PSII inhibitors on Kautsky curve parameters in sugar beet

The effects of the photosystem II inhibitors metamitron and terbuthylazine on the shape of the Kautsky (chlorophyll fluorescence induction) curve were investigated in sugar beet grown in hydroponic culture. The objective of the study was to trace recovery processes following herbicide injury using Kautsky curve parameters. Metamitron is used for selective weed control in sugar beet because it is metabolized in this crop. In contrast, terbuthylazine is toxic to sugar beet. Two hours after treatment, various fluorescence induction curve parameters, such as maximum quantum efficiency (F_V/F_m), the relative changes at the J step (F_vj) and area (the area between the Kautsky curve and maximum fluorescence, F_m), were affected by metamitron at concentration ranges of 70–280 mg active ingredient (a.i.) L^?1 in plants treated at the four‐true‐leaf stage. Shortly after herbicide application, F_v/F_m was more affected by the hydrophilic metamitron [log(K_ow) = 0.83] than by the lipophilic terbuthylazine [log(K_ow) = 3.21], but these differences between compounds were alleviated as metamitron was metabolized and terbuthylazine was not. Terbuthylazine at 1 mg a.i. L^?1 affected sugar beet at the four‐ and six‐true‐leaf stages to the same extent, whereas metamitron at a dose of 140 mg a.i. L^?1 affected much more at four‐ than at the six‐true‐leaf stage. Sugar beet recovered from metamitron injury even at high doses (140 and 280 mg a.i. L^?1). Fluorescence induction curve parameters were similarly affected by terbuthylazine and, although sugar beet recovered from terbuthylazine injury at low doses (<0.2 mg a.i. L^?1), the Kautsky curve was irreversibly affected at higher doses (1–10 mg a.i. L^?1), leading finally to plant death. Older plants were affected later, and recovered sooner, from both herbicides.     

Induction of wheat and maize glutathione S-transferase by some herbicide safeners and their effect on enzyme activity against butachlor and terbuthylazine

The expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in wheat and maize shoots was investigated in response to treatments with the herbicide safeners benoxacor, cloquintocet-mexyl, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, fluxofenim and oxabetrinil. These safeners significantly enhanced the GST activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as a 'standard' substrate, with the exception of oxabetrinil in maize. The enhancements of GST (CDNB) activity were found to be concomitant with increases in V(max) (the reaction rate when the enzyme is fully saturated by the substrate) in wheat following cloquintocet-mexyl and fenchlorazole-ethyl treatments, and in maize following fenchlorazole-ethyl treatment. Otherwise, decreases in V(max) were observed in wheat and maize following fenclorim and fluxofenim treatments. With the exception of oxabetrinil, all the safeners significantly reduced the apparent K(M) (the substrate concentration required for 50% of maximum GST activity) of both wheat and maize GST. The V(max) and K(M) variations following safener treatments are discussed in terms of an increased expression of GST enzymes and an increased affinity for the CDNB substrate. The activity of wheat and maize GST was also assayed towards butachlor and terbuthylazine respectively; the results indicate the ability of cloquintocet-mexyl, fenchlorazole-ethyl and fluxofenim to enhance the enzyme activity in wheat and of benoxacor and fenchlorazole-ethyl to do so in maize.     

植物光合作用测定法确定灭草松和特丁津混用的最低致死剂量

在荷兰瓦赫宁根国际植物研究所温室内,用植物光合作用测定法研究了光合作用抑制型除草剂灭草松和特丁津桶混防除6种常见阔叶杂草的最低致死剂量。结果表明,药剂对杂草的生长有明显的抑制作用,在施药2 d后可观察到明显的灭草松的防效,在施药8 d后可观察到明显的特丁津的防效。随着施药剂量的增加,杂草叶片的植物光合作用测定(PPM)值和杂草地上部分鲜重显著下降。供试的6种杂草对该混剂的敏感性存在显著差异:红心藜Chenopodium album、龙葵Solanum nigrum和反枝苋Amaranthus retroflexus对该混剂最敏感,ED90值分别为47.65、71.67和29.17 g/hm2;春蓼Polygonum persicaria和苘麻Abutilon theophrasti敏感,ED90值分别为96.91、114.20 g/hm2;而番茄不敏感。比较施药后2、4和6 d时杂草叶片的PPM值与施药后16 d时杂草地上部分鲜重防效的相关性可以发现,施药后4 d杂草叶片的PPM值与鲜重防效的相关性最好,相应的R2为0.924 7。表明PPM值可以较好地预测防效,在本试验条件下,施药后4 d的PPM值的预测效果最好。