Effect of Organic Residues on Pesticide Behavior in Soils: A Review of Laboratory Research

Abstract

The management of large volumes of organic residues generated in different livestock, urban, agricultural and industrial activities is a topic of environmental and social interest. The high organic matter content of these residues means that their application as soil organic amendments in agriculture is considered one of the more sustainable options, as it could solve the problem of the accumulation of uncontrolled wastes while improving soil quality and avoiding its irreversible degradation. However, the behavior of pesticides applied to increase crop yields could be modified in the presence of these amendments in the soil. This review article addresses how the adsorption–desorption, dissipation and leaching of pesticides in soils is affected by different organic residues usually applied as organic amendments. Based on the results reported from laboratory studies, the influence on these processes has been evaluated of multiple factors related to organic residues (e.g., origin, nature, composition, rates, and incubation time of the amended soils), pesticides (e.g., with different use, structure, characteristics, and application method), and soils with different physicochemical properties. Future perspectives on this topic are also included for highlighting the need to extend these laboratory studies to field and modelling scale to better assess and predict pesticide fate in amended soil scenarios.

Availability of Metribuzin-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles in Different Soil Systems: An Important Study on the Development of Safe Nanoherbicides

“…Here, we observed the increasing sorption potential with the amount of SOM, for both conventional and nanoformulations, in established cropping systems. Humic substances, from the organic matter degradation portion, have high reactivity, a large surface area, and variable composition, interacting with neutral or ionizable molecules [ 49 , 50 ], such as MTZ formulations. Even stable SOM compounds, which increase hydrophobicity in the soil, can sorb triazines and soluble herbicides such as metribuzin [ 41 , 51 , 52 ].…”

Distribution of chlorpyrifos residue in maize (Zea mays)

“…A considerable influence in the fate of xenobiotic chemicals, including pesticides, is played by increasing the c-organic content of the soil by adding organic matter through organic amendments [20]. Soil organic matter (SOM) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) from organic amendments might alter the physicochemical behavior of pesticides (such as adsorption-desorption, persistence, bioavailability, degradation, and mobility) [21][22]. Due to the low C-organic concentration, pesticide residues in the soil are less efficiently adsorbed, allowing plants to more readily take them up.…”

“…Due to the low C-organic concentration, pesticide residues in the soil are less efficiently adsorbed, allowing plants to more readily take them up. A lesser percentage of pesticides are immobilized in soils with a low C-organic concentration [22]. To lower a pesticide's half-life [21], organic matter in the soil acts as an efficient adsorbent [23].…”

Coal tailings as a soil conditioner: evaluation of tailing properties and effect on tomato plants

“…Organic carbon content is directly related to the soil organic matter content in the soil, and inorganic carbon generally refers to the carbon in carbonate form. Both organic and inorganic carbon have been reported for their outstanding ability to remediate polluted soil via locking down different plant pollutants, such as heavy metals and pesticides (Skłodowski et al 2006;Ouhadi et al 2010;Placek et al 2017;Carpio et al 2021). Furthermore, the content of plant extractable heavy metals was found to be affected by the particle size distribution of soil (Clemente et al 2020;Carpio et al 2021).…”

“…Both organic and inorganic carbon have been reported for their outstanding ability to remediate polluted soil via locking down different plant pollutants, such as heavy metals and pesticides (Skłodowski et al 2006;Ouhadi et al 2010;Placek et al 2017;Carpio et al 2021). Furthermore, the content of plant extractable heavy metals was found to be affected by the particle size distribution of soil (Clemente et al 2020;Carpio et al 2021). Small soil particles were found to have higher plant extractable Zn and As contents.…”