A three year field study was undertaken to assess the influence of water table management, namely subsurface irrigation and controlled drainage, on the movement of pesticides through the soil profile into ground water. The herbicides under investigation were prometryn on an organic soil, and metolachlor on a sandy soil. Both soil and groundwater were collected and analyzed. The results presented are those obtained in the first two years of the project. / In the organic soil, herbicide leaching was greatly reduced due to the management of the water table. The pesticide remained higher in the soil profile, preventing leaching to the drains and allowing degradation. / The opposite effect appeared to have occurred in the sandy soil. The higher water table resulting from subsurface irrigation may have induced the leaching of the contaminant into lower soil levels and into the ground water. The high water solubility of the herbicide metolachlor, in conjunction with low microbial activity, may have played a role in this phenomenon.

No description available.

In many countries around the world, municipal sewage and industrial wastewaters are typically treated, or sometimes only partially treated, prior to their discharge into surface waters. A major anionic surfactant, Linear Alkyl benzene Sulfonate (LAS), and a degraded product of a non-ionic surfactant, Nonylphenol (NP), are frequently found in municipal wastewaters. When wastewater containing such surfactants and their degraded products is used for irrigation, it can have an effect on the sorption/desorption and movement of pesticides in soils. Therefore, a lysimeter study was conducted, in summer 2004, to assess the effect of LAS and NP on the movement of agricultural herbicides through a sandy loam soil. The degradation of the herbicides was studied in lysimeters over a ninety-day period. Irrigation water with a concentration of 12 mg L -1 of LAS and NP was used to assess their effect on the leaching of atrazine, metolachlor, and metribuzin. Moreover, a laboratory sorption experiment was undertaken to estimate the partition coefficients (kd) of the three herbicides with water containing the same concentrations of LAS and NP. Irrigation water containing low concentrations of surfactants (LAS and NP) did not increase leaching of the three herbicides. Therefore, these results would reduce the concerns regarding pesticide leaching through sandy soil brought on by LAS and NP in wastewaters for irrigation, which is becoming more important due to increasing water scarcity in the dry climate regions of the world. / Beside the lysimeter study, mathematical models can be used effectively and economically in a very short period of time for simulating herbicide concentrations into soil. PESTFADE, a one dimensional transient flow model, was used, in this study, to simulate the fate of the three herbicides in sandy soils. Another model, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), was also used over mathematical modeling due to its faster execution period and less input parameter requirements, for predicting the concentrations of the three herbicides in a sandy loam soil. The predicted concentrations, from both models were compared with the experimental results from the lysimeter study. Although slight overestimations and underestimations were observed, both models simulated herbicide concentrations in the soil profile satisfactorily.

No description available.

Subirrigation systems are generally used in humid areas to provide suitable moisture conditions for plant growth. These systems can also be used to reduce pesticide loadings from agricultural lands, since they tend to keep the discharging waters within farm boundaries for extended periods of time. This allows for greater pesticide microbial and chemical degradation. / A three-year field lysimeter study was initiated to investigate the role of subirrigation systems in reducing the risk of water pollution from the three most commonly used herbicides in Quebec, namely atrazine (2-chloro-4[ethylamino]-6[isopropylamino]-1,3,5-triazine), metribuzin (4-am ino-6(1,1-di meth yl eth yl)-3-(meth yl thio)-1,2,4-tria zin-5(4H)-one), and meto lach lor (2-chlo ro-N-(2-eth yl-6-methyl phen yl)-N-(2-meth oxy-1-meth yl eth yl)acet amide). Eighteen PVC lysimeters, 1 m tall x 0.45 m diameter, were packed with a sandy soil. Three water table management treatments, i.e. two subirrigation treatments with constant water table depths of 0.4 and 0.8 m, respectively, and a free drainage treatment in a completely randomized design with three replicates were used. Grain corn (Zea mays L.) and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) were grown on lysimeters, and herbicides were applied each year at the locally recommended rates at the beginning of each summer. Soil and water samples were collected at different time intervals after each natural or simulated rainfall event. Herbicides were extracted from soil and water samples and were analyzed using Gas Chromatography. / From the three years results (1993--1995), it has been concluded that all three herbicides were quite mobile in this sandy soil, as they leached to the 0.85 m depth below the soil surface quite early in the growing season. This suggests that if the drainage effluent or seeping waters from sandy soils of agricultural lands in southern Quebec drain freely, they may be considered to be a serious non-point source of pollution to the water bodies. The results have also shown that herbicide concentration decreased with soil depth as well as with time, meaning that the higher herbicide residues were found at top layers, and soon after the herbicide application. The herbicide mass balance study revealed that when the drainage effluent was kept within the lysimeters under the subirrigation setup, there was a statistically significant reduction of atrazine and metribuzin residues (shorter half lives) in the adsorbed and liquid phases. However, the reduction in metolachlor concentration under the subirrigation system was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that subirrigation, combined with certain herbicides can significantly reduce the herbicide loadings from corn and potato farms in southwestern Quebec, and become environmentally beneficial. / A computer simulation model (PRZM2), was used to simulate atrazine, metribuzin, and metolachlor leaching in the lysimeters, under subsurface drainage conditions. The simulated values for all three chemicals in most of the cases followed the leaching pattern of observed data. But the model either under- or over-estimated the herbicide concentrations in the soil. This could have been caused by simplistic instantaneous linear adsorption/desorption of herbicides, and inadequacy of conventional Darcian approach for the treatment of matrix flow.

CNPQ / A atrazina (2-cloro-4-etilamino-6-isopropilamino-striazina) é um herbicida mundialmente utilizado no controle de plantas daninhas, com potencial para contaminar águas subterrâneas e prejudicar culturas sensíveis em sucessão. O uso de formulações de liberação lenta de atrazina poderia se constituir estratégia mitigadora do impacto ambiental e contribuir para a melhoria da eficiência de controle de plantas daninhas. Com o objetivo de determinar o comportamento ambiental e a eficiência agronômica de formulação de atrazina com liberação lenta (xerogel), comparando-a com formulação comercial, foram realizados um experimento a campo e três bioensaios em casa de vegetação. O experimento a campo foi implantado com a cultura do milho, utilizando-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, em um esquema (2 x 6) + 4. Nas parcelas principais foram locadas as formulações (atrazina WG e atrazina xerogel), e nas subparcelas as concentrações de atrazina (0, 3200, 3600, 4200, 5400 e 8000 g ha-1), com acréscimo de quatro parcelas testemunha capinadas. Amostras de solo foram coletadas nas parcelas com 8000 g ha-1 para realização de bioensaios em casa de vegetação para avaliação da persistência e lixiviação das formulações. Nos bioensaios, o delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado. No experimento a campo, avaliou-se a densidade e o controle visual de plantas daninhas e o rendimento de grãos de milho. Nos bioensaios, as principais variáveis avaliadas foram estatura, fitotoxicidade, massas de planta verde e seca. No primeiro bioensaio, selecionou-se a espécie cultivada mais adequada para utilização em testes para determinação da lixiviação e persistência das formulações de atrazina. No experimento a campo, a formulação WG exerceu maior controle de B. plantaginea que xerogel nas avaliações de mais precoces, mas nas avaliações mais tardias a atrazina xerogel foi mais eficiente. Não ocorreram diferenças de rendimento de grãos de milho entre as formulações e doses testadas. O grau de sensibilidade à atrazina variou de acordo com a espécie: quiabo e ervilha apresentaram pequena sensibilidade; aveia e trigo apresentaram nível intermediário e tomate e rabanete o mais alto nível de sensibilidade à presença de atrazina no solo. A biodisponibilização de atrazina ao solo variou em função do tempo e da formulação: até 5 dias após a aplicação, a disponibilização com a formulação xerogel foi maior; no período entre 14 e 28 dias, a biodisponibilização por atrazina WG foi superior à por xerogel; aos 35 dias após a aplicação, xerogel proporcionou maior atrazina ao solo do que WG. A meia vida foi de 30 e 38 dias, para atrazina WG e atrazina xerogel, respectivamente. Maior concentração de atrazina foi encontrada na superfície do solo (0 a 4 cm), nas duas formulações. Porém, a quantificação de atrazina por bioensaio indicou maior concentração da formulação WG entre 2 e 4 cm, em contraste com o resultado da análise cromatográfica, que indicou maior concentração da formulação xerogel. / Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamine-6-isopropylamine-striazina) is an herbicide used worldwide to control weeds with potential to contaminate groundwater and harm sensitive crops in succession. The use of controlled release formulations of atrazine could be a strategy to mitigate environmental impact and contribute to improving the efficiency of weed control with atrazine. Aiming to determine the environmental performance and agronomic efficiency of atrazine formulation of controlled release (xerogel), compared with the commercial formulation were conducted one experiment in the field and three bioassays in greenhouse. The field experiment was implemented with the corn, using randomized blocks design, with split plots in a scheme (2 x 6) + 4. In the main plots were located formulations (atrazine xerogel and WG), and in sub-plots the atrazine concentrations (0, 3200, 3600, 4200, 5400 and 8000 g ha-1), with four additional control plots weeded. Soil samples were collected from each plot with 8000 g ha-1 for bioassays in the greenhouse to evaluate the persistence and leaching of the formulations. The experimental designs of bioassays were completely randomized. In the field experiment, we evaluated the density and visual control of weeds and yield of maize. In bioassays, the main variables were height, phytotoxicity, green and dry plant mass. In the first bioassay was selected cultivated species most suitable for use in tests to determine the persistence and leaching of atrazine formulations. In the field experiment, the formulation WG produced greater control of B. plantaginea than xerogel in earlier assessments, but in later assessments atrazine xerogel was more effective. There were no differences in grain yield of maize between the formulations and doses tested. The degree of sensitivity to atrazine varied according to species: okra and peas showed little sensitivity; oats and wheat had an intermediate; radish and tomato had the highest level of sensitivity to the presence of atrazine in soil. The bioavailability of atrazine to soil varied depending on the time and formulation: until 5 days after application, atrazine disponibility by xerogel formulation was higher and in period between 14 and 28 days, the bioavailability of atrazine by WG was higher than by xerogel; 35 days after application, atrazine xerogel showed higher disponibility than the WG. The half-life was 30 and 38 days for atrazine WG and xerogel, respectively. Higher concentrations of atrazine were found in surface soil (0-4 cm) in two formulations. However, the quantification of atrazine by bioassay indicated a greater concentration of WG formulation between 2 and 4 cm, in contrast with the results of chromatographic analysis, which indicated a greater concentration of the xerogel formulation.

No description available.

Fields studies conducted in 1987 and 1988 determined the weed control efficacy of ICIA-0051 and SC-0774 in conventional and no-till systems of corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) culture. Results of the preemergence and postemergence applications of ICIA-0051, across all treatments after 8 weeks, showed 85% control or better of triazine-resistant smooth pigweed (<i>Amaranthus hybridus</i> L.), while fall panicum (<i>Panicum dichotomiflorum</i> Michx.) control ranged from 43 to 87%. Giant ragweed (<i>Ambrosia trifida</i> L.) control ranged from 30 to 95%, while control of ivyleaf morningglory (<i>Ipomoea hederacea</i> (L.) Jacq.) was below 75% in the preemergence treatments and ranged from 89 to 99% in the postemergence treatments. In general, the addition of atrazine to the pre- and postemergence treatments of ICIA-0051 improved weed control. SC-0774 treatments gave 85% or better control of fall panicum, but inadequate broadleaf weed control (75% or worse). Soil mobility studies using soil thin-layer chromatography and soil leaching columns indicated that the movement of ICIA-0051 was highly negatively correlated with the organic/humic matter fraction. Although the mobility patterns were similar, ICIA-0051 was more mobile than SC-0774, which was more mobile than atrazine. A comparison of ICIA-0051 across soils indicated that the order of mobility was Appling loamy sand (Rf = 6.4) > Davidson clay (Rf = 5.6) > Bojac sandy loam (Rf = 5.0) = Frederick silt loam (Rf = 4.9) > Hyde silty clay loam (Rf = 1.1). Other soil properties such as the clay content and pH were not strongly correlated with ICIA-0051 movement. Results of the adsorption/desorption studies indicated that the organic/humic matter fraction was primarily responsible for the binding and retention of ICIA-0051 across the five soils investigated. Based on the K constants derived from the Freundlich equation, the order of adsorption was Hyde > Frederick > Davidson = Bojac > Appling. The desorption results indicated that ICIA-005l was not tightly bound to the soil particles, with losses between 20 and 50% of the amount adsorbed after two desorptions. Results of the greenhouse persistence study, using mustard (<i>Brassica kaber</i> L.) as a bioassay species, indicated that ICIA-0051 was more biologically available than atrazine. Similar to the adsorption and leaching results, the persistence of ICIA-0051 was highly positively correlated with the soils’ organic matter. Regardless of the rate used, crop injury decreased over time, although the highest rate (1 ppm of ICIA-0051) showed significant crop injury even after 6 months in several soils in the greenhouse studies. / Ph. D.

Response of barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> L.) and wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) to root-applied chlorsulfuron (2-chloro N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) amino] carbonyl] benzenesulfonamide), a herbicide for use in small grains, was investigated. The results showed that, although wheat roots take up more chlorsulfuron than barley roots, barley was less tolerant to chlorsulfuron and chlorsulfuron was more mobile in barley. This study indicated that difference in uptake or translocation cannot explain the differential response of the two species to root-applied chlorsulfuron. In an interaction study, significant chlorsulfuron antagonism on ryegrass (<i>Lolium multiflorum</i> Lam.) control by diclofop {(±)[-2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenoxy) propanoic acid} was observed. Greenhouse experiments showed that the tolerance of corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) to chlorsulfuron and metsulfuron (2-[[[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-l,3,5-triazin- -2-yl) amino] carbonyl] amino] sulfonyl] benzoic acid) was greatly increased by seed dressing with the herbicide safener NA (1,8-naphthalic anhydride). The soil behavior of chlorsulfuron was studied in the field, greenhouse and laboratory. In the field, corn adequately tolerated soil residues present 10 months following postemergence application of chlorsulfuron at 10 to 120 g/ha. However, at the same site and rates, residues from chlorsulfuron injured corn when sampled 2 months after application. In laboratory studies chlorsulfuron was moderately adsorbed by organic matter but showed low affinity to clay. R_f values calculated from soil thin-layer chromatography closely correlated with the mobility of chlorsulfuron leached with 16.8 cm of water over a 14-day period in hand-packed soil columns. In the soil thin-layer chromatography, chlorsulfuron mobility was positively and negatively correlated with pH and organic matter, respectively. The results indicated that chlorsulfuron could be mobile in low organic matter and non-acidic soils. The relationship of chlorsulfuron phytotoxicity to soil physical and chemical properties was also evaluated. Organic matter was inversely related to chlorsulfuron phytotoxicity while no such relationship to clay content was observed. The adsorption of chlorsulfuron decreased with increasing soil pH whereas desorption was greater at alkaline pH. / Ph. D.

Two different modeling approaches to simulate pesticide fate and transport in soil were investigated in this study. First, a process-based mathematical model, DRAINMOD-P, was developed by combining the attractive features of DRAINMOD and PESTFADE. While DRAINMOD formed the main component to perform hydrological predictions, PESTFADE's pesticide sub-model was used to simulate pesticide fate. The new model was validated against three years of independently collected field data from southern Ontario. Several statistical parameters were calculated to evaluate model performance. / Second, an implicit model, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines, MARS, which is also a novel data mining tool, was used to assess pesticide transport. MARS was first validated against the field data on three herbicides, namely, atrazine, metribuzin and metolachlor. DRAINMOD-P and MARS simulations, though impressive, need further validations before they can be recommended for actual real-world use.* / *This dissertation is a compound document (contains both a paper copy and a CD as part of the dissertation). The CD requires the following system requirements: Microsoft Office; Adobe Acrobat.