Premium
The action of metham‐sodium in soil. II. —factors affectiné the removal of methyl isothiocyanate residues
Author(s) -
Ashley M. G.,
Leigh B. L.,
Lloyd L. S.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740140305
Subject(s) - chemistry , soil water , lime , volatilisation , loam , agronomy , soil type , environmental chemistry , environmental science , soil science , organic chemistry , biology , paleontology
Methyl isothiocyanate, the main decomposition product when metham‐sodium is applied to the soil, is responsible for its fungicidal and phytotoxic activity. The effects of various factors on the release of methyl isothiocyanate from soil are examined with the view to reducing the interval between application and subsequent planting. The following factors, in order of importance, are shown to affect the removal of the phytotoxic residues: (a) soil temperature: removal at 15° can be 25% to 50% greater than at 10°: (b) soil type: clay and sandy loams lose residues much more readily than soils containing a high peat content; (c) soil‐pH: addition of lime to acid soils increases the rate of release; and (d) water‐saturated soils are more retentive than drier soils of equivalent type. Loss of methyl isothiocyanate from soil is largely due to volatilisation, but microbiological and possibly chemical processes are shown to contribute to this action.