Effects of repeated glyphosate applications on soil microbial community composition and the mineralization of glyphosate.

BACKGROUND: Repeated applications may have a greater impact on the soil microbial community than a single application of glyphosate. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of one, two, three, four or five applications of glyphosate on soil microbial community composition and glyphosate mineralization and distribution of (14)C residues in soil. RESULTS: Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) common to gram-negative bacteria were present in higher concentrations following five applications relative to one, two, three or four applications both 7 and 14 days after application (DAA). Additionally, sequencing of 16S rRNA bacterial genes indicated that the abundance of the gram-negative Burkholderia spp. was increased following the application of glyphosate. The cumulative percentage (14)C mineralized 14 DAA was reduced when glyphosate was applied 4 or 5 times relative to the amount of (14)C mineralized following one, two or three applications. Incorporation of (14)C residues into soil microbial biomass was greater following five glyphosate applications than following the first application 3 and 7 DAA. CONCLUSION: These studies suggest that the changes in the dissipation or distribution of glyphosate following repeated applications of glyphosate may be related to shifts in the soil microbial community composition.

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.