Clopyralid and Compost: Formulation and Mowing Effects on Herbicide Content of Grass Clippings

The presence of clopyralid, a selective broadleaf herbicide, in compost near Spokane, Washington in 2000 was attributed to grass clippings collected from area lawns and subsequently used as compost feedstock. A field study was conducted in 2001 to evaluate the effects of herbicide formulation and mowing practice on the clopyralid content of grass clippings. The objective was to develop guidelines that would limit the concentration of clopyralid in clippings, thereby reducing the amount of clopyralid entering the compost production stream. Clopyralid was applied to turfgrass as either a sprayable (S) or granular (G) formulation. Grass clippings were either collected in a bagging lawn mower and removed from the plots or returned into the plant canopy using a mulching mower designed to finely chop and disperse the leaf blades. Clippings were sampled for a period of ten weeks after application, and again in the summer of 2002, and analyzed for clopyralid content. Mowing treatment had no significant effect on clopyralid content of grass clippings. The S formulation resulted in higher concentration than the G at 4 hours after treatment (193 mg kg^?1 and 53 mg kg^?1, respectively). At 10 weeks after treatment (WAT), clopyralid concentration averaged 0.9 mg kg^?1, and cumulative recovery of clopyralid in grass clippings was 35% and 29% of the amount applied for the S and G formulations, respectively. By 56 and 98 WAT, clopyralid concentration in clippings was 0.06 and 0.02 mg kg^?1, respectively. Based on these results, and depending on feedstock dilution and composting conditions, a waiting period of up to one year after application of clopyralid could be necessary for treated grass clippings to be safely used as compost feedstock.