Adsorption and Degradation Behavior of Six Herbicides in Different Agricultural Soils.
Abstract This study focuses on the assessment of herbicide adsorption and degradation in three soils (Haplic Chernozem, Haplic Fluvisol, and Arenic Regozem) from different agricultural regions of the Czech Republic where sunflower is cultivated. Soil samples were used in laboratory batch sorption and degradation experiments for six herbicides commonly used on sunflower crops. The findings are used to examine the effect of soil and herbicide properties on adsorption and degradation, as well as to determine the possible relation between the two processes. The (Kf) sorption coefficient ranged from 1.07 to 135.37 cm3/n μg1-1/n g-1, and sorption increased in order: dimethenamid-p < pethoxamid < s-metolachlor < flurochloridone < aclonifen < pendimethalin. Sorption of all six herbicides was positively correlated with organic matter content (p < 0. 001), and cation exchange capacity (p < 0.001). pH was negatively correlated with the sorption of all six compounds (p < 0.001). Degradation rates of herbicides ranged from 0. 012 to 0. 048 day-1, which corresponding to (DT50) half-lives between 14 - 57 days respectively. The longer half-lives were always found in Haplic Fluvisol with higher organic matter content. Results showed that both adsorption and degradation of herbicides is mainly controlled by soil organic matter. A negative relationship was found between the sorption coefficient and the rate of degradation. It can be concluded that the Freundlich sorption coefficient (Kf) can be a good predictor for soil degradation of the studied herbicides.