Soil residue analysis and degradation of saflufenacil as affected by moisture content and soil characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Saflufenacil dissipation in soils under different moisture conditions is not available in the scientific literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate saflufenacil degradation and persistence in soils from rice regions under field capacity (non-flooded) and saturated (flooded) conditions. RESULTS: The accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) residue analytical method developed to conduct the study resulted in recovery greater than 80% for the combinations of soils and moisture conditions. Saflufenacil degradation was faster at field capacity for all soils, except for Morey soil. Herbicide half-life was 28.6, 15.0 and 23.1 days under field capacity treatments and 58.8, 36.9 and 79.7 under saturated conditions for Nada, Crowley and Gilbert soils respectively. A half-life no longer than 80 days was observed for the combination of soils and moisture treatments. CONCLUSION: An ASE method was developed and used to extract saflufenacil from soil samples. Half-life averaged among soils was 59 and 33 days for saturated and field capacity respectively. Saflufenacil persistence in the environment was 2-3 times longer under flooded conditions for most of the soils studied.

Microbial degradation of fluometuron is influenced by roundup weatherMAX.

Laboratory experiments were conducted to describe the influence of glyphosate and fluometuron on soil microbial activity and to determine the effect of glyphosate on fluometuron degradation in soil and by Rhizoctonia solani. Soil and liquid medium were amended with formulated fluometuron alone or with two rates of formulated glyphosate. The soil carbon mineralization was measured hourly for 33 days. The fluometuron remaining in the soil was quantified following 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 days of incubation. The fluometuron remaining in medium and fungal biomass was measured after 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, and 20 days of incubation. The addition of glyphosate with fluometuron increased C-mineralization and increased the rate of fluometuron degradation relative to fluometuron applied alone. However, more fluometuron remained in the media and less fungal biomass was produced when glyphosate was included.

Soil microbial activity is affected by Roundup WeatherMax and pesticides applied to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).

Adoption of glyphosate-based weed control systems has led to increased use of the herbicide with continued use of additional pesticides. Combinations of pesticides may affect soil microbial activity differently than pesticides applied alone. Research was conducted to evaluate the influence of glyphosate-based cotton pest management systems on soil microbial activity. Soil was treated with commercial formulations of trifluralin, aldicarb, and mefenoxam + pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) with or without glyphosate (applied as Roundup WeatherMax). The soil microbial activity was measured by quantifying C and N mineralization. Soil microbial biomass was determined using the chloroform fumigation-incubation method. Soils treated with glyphosate alone exhibited greater cumulative C mineralization 30 days after treatment than all other treatments, which were similar to the untreated control. The addition of Roundup WeatherMax reduced C mineralization in soils treated with fluometuron, aldicarb, or mefenoxam + PCNB formulations. These results indicate that glyphosate-based herbicides alter the soil microbial response to other pesticides.