Activity,Adsorption, and Lixiviation of Acetochlor in Soil under No Tillage and Conventional Tillage: Influence of Straw Coverage

Abstract

The activity of residual herbicides employed for weed control varies with adsorption, lixiviation, degradation, and biological transformation of these compounds in the soil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity of the herbicide acetochlor (2‐chloro‐N‐ethoxymethyl‐6′‐ethylacet‐o‐toluidine) in Typic Paleodult under no tillage and conventional tillage. Field and laboratory experiments were carried out at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Weed control with and without straw coverage, and adsorption and lixiviation of acetochlor, in soil with both tillage systems were evaluated. Adsorption and lixiviation processes were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detector. The coefficients K _d and K _oc were higher in no‐tillage soil, indicating a more effective acetochlor adsorption. The maximum concentration of acetochlor was found in a depth of 15–20 cm, indicating a higher lixiviation in this soil. The acetochlor was more effective in weed control using conventional tillage when compared to no tillage. The straw coverage reduced the control efficiency of the herbicide.