Degradation of 2, 4-D, 2, 4, 5-T,and picloram in two Philippine soils

The degradation of 2, 4-D, 2, 4, 5-T, and picloram in two Philippine soils was investigated under upland and flooded (submerged) conditions. These herbicides degraded in both upland and flooded Maahas clay and Luisiana clay soils. The rate of degradation of the herbicides was more rapid in the Maahas clay soil than in the Luisiana clay soil. Among the three herbicides, 2, 4-D was the least persistent and picloram was the most persistent in both soils under both submerged and upland conditions. 2, 4, 5-T degraded more actively in the two Philippine soils in this study than studies previously reported in the available literature. The fact that both the 2, 4-D and 2, 4, 5-T did not degrade in sterilized soils during the incubation period suggests that the degradation is due to the microbial activity in the soils.