Effects of concentration,incubation temperature,and repeated applications on degradation kinetics of dicyandiamide (DCD) in model experiments with a silt loam soil

Summary The kinetics of dicyandiamide (DCD) decomposition were studied (at 80% water-holding capacity) in pretreated and non-pretreated soils, using model experiments. DCD was added in different concentrations (6.7, 16.7, and 33.3 g DCD-N g^–1 dry soil) and incubated at various temperatures (10°, 20°, and 30°C). Additionally, DCD decomposition was examined in sterile soil (with or without Fe₂O₃) after inoculation with a DCD-enrichment culture. In the sterile variant, (30°C)the applied dicyandiamide concentration remained constant, even after 36 days. In the sterilized and reinoculated variant, DCD disappeared within 7 days. Addition of Fe₂O₃ powder to the sterilized soil had no effect on DCD degradation. In the pretreated soils, DCD mineralization started immediately at all temperatures and concentrations without a lag phase. A temperature increase of 10°C doubled the mineralization rate. The mineralization rates were independent of the initial concentrations. In the non-pretreated soils (except at 30°C with 16.7 and 33.3 g DCD-N g^–1 dry soil) DCD decreased only after a short (30°C) or a long (10°C) lag phase. These results suggest that an inducible metabolic degradation occurred, following zeroorder kinetics.