Effects of long-term 2,4-D and MCPA field applications on soil residues and their rates of breakdown. [Triticum aestivum L]

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (USA)

OSTI ID:7166483

Smith, A E; Abuin, A J ^[1]; Biederbeck, V O ^[2]

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1. Agriculture Canada, Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada)
2. Agriculture Canada, Swift Current, Saskatchewan (Canada)

A 3-yr rotation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), wheat, and summerfallow in field plots on a clay soil at the Indian Head Experimental Farm, Saskatchewan, has been receiving annual applications of ester and amine formulations of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) since 1947, and MCPA (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid) since 1953. In the fall of 1987, after 40 successive applications of 2,4-D and 34 annual treatments of MCPA, soil samples were taken from the 0- to 15-cm and 15- to 30-cm depths of replicate treatments. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed that residual amounts of 2,4-D and MCPA were less than 0.02 mg kg{sup {minus}1}, indicating that there had been complete degradation of the herbicides. Under laboratory conditions, the breakdown of 2.0 mg kg{sup {minus}1} ({sup 14}C) 2,4-D and ({sup 14}C)MCPA was slightly faster in soils that had received continuous applications with the appropriate herbicide, than in soil from the untreated control plots, suggesting some soil microbial adaptation in response to long-term use of these herbicides.

• OSTI ID: 7166483
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (USA), Vol. 18:3; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
HERBICIDES
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
SOILS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DECOMPOSITION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
540211* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (1990-)