Degradation of atrazine and bromacil in two forestry waste products

Abstract

The persistence and degradation of two common herbicides, atrazine and bromacil in two organic media, wood pulp and sawdust were compared with two soils. The hypothesis tested was that herbicide degradation will be faster in high organic matter media compared to soil. Degradation of two herbicides was carried out in four different temperature regimes and in sterilised media. The degradation half-life (t½) was determined under above-mentioned conditions then compared to degradation in soil. The degradation as quantified by t½ of the herbicides was generally longer in both organic media. Although microbial degradation was an important factor in the mineralisation of these herbicides, overall, the pH of the media had a more profound effect on the desorption and subsequent degradation rate than the organic carbon content. The results of this study revealed that the hypothesis was only partially correct as organic matter content per se did not strongly relate to degradation rates which were mainly governed by pH and microbial activity.

Establishing the extent of pesticide contamination in Irish agricultural soils

“…When microorganisms come in contact with pesticides, the pesticides may be utilised as a source of carbon and energy, rapidly decreasing the pesticide concentrations [ 53 ]. This reasoning is supported by various studies [ [148] , [149] , [150] , [151] ], where the alteration of organic matter in the soil increases microorganism activity, subsequently escalating pesticide degradation. The lower degradation rate of fluroxypyr compared to the other pesticides can also be linked to soil organic matter and microbial activity.…”

Ultrasensitive assay of atrazine in food and water samples

“…Therefore, it is the one that is utilized most commonly in agricultural settings [2]. Because atrazine is composed of a triazine ring modified with chlorine, ethylamine, and isopropylamine, it is resistant to the biological breakdown that occurs in natural environments [3]. Atrazine stays in the soil for sixty to one hundred days after it has been used in crops, and it may be carried to both surface and subterranean drinking water sources.…”

Degradation of Residual Herbicide Atrazine in Agri-Food and Washing Water

“…So, the residual problem of atrazine still remains a concern. Atrazine is chemically stable with long half-life in water (30–100 days) [ 14 , 15 ], and its microbial degradation in soil environments is a relatively slow process (the range of field half-lives is 18 to 148 days [ 16 , 17 ]). It is also slightly soluble in water (33 mg·L −1 at 22 °C) and has low adsorption in soil [ 18 ].…”