Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T19:18:38.632Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Loss of Alachlor from Soil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

R. S. Hargrove
Affiliation:
Dep. of Soil and Crop Sci., Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
M. G. Merkle
Affiliation:
Dep. of Soil and Crop Sci., Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843

Abstract

Gas chromatographic analysis of benzene extracts was used to study the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the degradation and volatilization of 2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide (alachlor) in the soil. The relative humidity of a closed system had little effect on alachlor retention in air dry Sawyer fine sandy loam at 22 C, but had a pronounced effect when soil temperature was 38 C or higher. At 0% relative humidity (38 C or 46 C) alachlor was degraded to 2-chloro-2′,6′-diethylacetanilide. Decomposition, which also occurred in 5 N aqueous HCl, was attributed to acidic soil water film surfaces. As relative humidity within the system increased, the rate of degradation decreased, apparently because condensation of water vapor increased the thickness of the soil water film and decreased the surface acidity. At 38 C, minimum loss was noted at 31% relative humidity, and at 46 C, minimum loss was found at 79% relative humidity. The increased loss of alachlor at relative humidities above these critical points was attributed to volatility and not to chemical degradation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Bailey, G. W. and White, J. L. 1964. Soil pesticide relationships. Review of adsorption and desorption of organic pesticides by soil colloids, with implications concerning pesticide bioactivity. J. Agr. Food Chem. 12:324332.Google Scholar
2. Bouse, L. F. and Bovey, R. W. 1967. A laboratory sprayer for potted plants. Weeds 15:8991.Google Scholar
3. Bowman, M. C., Schechter, M. S., and Carter, R. L. 1965. Behavior of chlorinated insecticides in a broad spectrum of soil types. J. Agr. Food Chem. 13:360365.Google Scholar
4. Deming, J. M. 1963. Determination of volatility losses of C14-CDAA from soil surfaces. Weeds 11:9196.Google Scholar
5. Derting, C. W. 1969. Performance of preemergence herbicide combinations on corn, soybeans, and peanuts. Proc. So. Weed Sci. Soc. 22:170174.Google Scholar
6. Eshel, J. 1969. Phytotoxicity, leachability, and site of uptake of 2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl) acetanilide. Weed Sci. 17:441444.Google Scholar
7. Fowkes, F. M., Benesi, H. A., Ryland, L. B., Sawyer, W. M., Detling, K. D., Loeffler, E. S., Folckemer, F. B., Johnson, M. R., and Sun, Y. P. 1960. Clay-catalyzed decomposition of insecticides. J. Agr. Food Chem. 8:203210.Google Scholar
8. Lasher, C. and Applegate, H. G. 1966. Pesticides at Presidio III. Soil and water. Texas J. Sci. 18:386395.Google Scholar
9. Mortland, M. M. 1968. Protonation of compounds at clay mineral surfaces. 9th Inter. Cong. Soil Sci. 1:691699.Google Scholar
10. Mortland, M. M. and Raman, K. V. 1968. Surface acidity of smectites in relation to hydration, exchangeable cation, and structure. Clays and Clay Min. 16:393398.Google Scholar
11. Mulla, M. S. 1960. Loss of chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides from soil surface in the field. J. Econ. Entomol. 53: 650655.Google Scholar
12. Parfitt, R. L. and Mortland, M. M. 1968. Ketone adsorption on montmorillonite. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 32:355363.Google Scholar
13. Stickler, R. L., Knake, E. L., and Hinesly, T. D. 1969. Soil moisture and effectiveness of preemergence herbicides. Weed Sci. 17:257259.Google Scholar
14. Swoboda, A. R. and Kunze, G. W. 1968. Reactivity of montmorillonite surfaces with weak organic bases. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 32:806811.Google Scholar
15. Tahoun, S. A. and Mortland, M. M. 1966. Complexes of montmorillonite with primary, secondary, and tertiary amides: II. Coordination of amides on the surface of montmorillonite. Soil Sci. 102:314321.Google Scholar
16. Walling, C. 1950. The acid strengths of surfaces. Amer. Chem. Soc. J. 72:11641168.Google Scholar
17. Yariv, S., Heller, L., and Kaufherr, N. 1969. Effect of acidity in montmorillonite interlayers on the sorption of aniline derivatives. Clays and Clay Min. 17:301308.Google Scholar