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Biocompost from sugar distillery effluent: effect on metribuzin degradation, sorption and mobility
Author(s) -
Singh Neera
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.1598
Subject(s) - metribuzin , sorption , effluent , sugar , degradation (telecommunications) , agronomy , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , pulp and paper industry , environmental science , food science , biology , environmental engineering , weed control , organic chemistry , computer science , adsorption , engineering , telecommunications
BACKGROUND: Metribuzin (4‐amino‐6‐ tert ‐butyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3‐methylthio‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5‐one) is weakly sorbed in soils and therefore leaches easily to lower soil profiles and results in loss of activity. Soil amendments play an important role in the management of runoff and leaching losses of pesticides from agricultural fields. Therefore, the effect of biocompost from sugarcane distillery effluent on metribuzin degradation and mobility was studied in a sandy loam soil. RESULTS: Metribuzin was more persistent in biocompost‐unamended (T‐0) flooded soil ( t 1/2 − 41.2 days) than in non‐flooded ( t 1/2 − 33.4 days) soil. Biocompost application at the rate of 2.5 and 5.0% (T‐1 and T‐2) in non‐flooded soils increased metribuzin persistence, but no significant effect was observed on persistence in flooded soils. Freundlich adsorption constants ( K f ) for treatments T‐0, T‐1 and T‐2 were 0.43, 0.64 and 1.13 respectively, suggesting that biocompost application caused increased metribuzin sorption. Leaching studies in packed soil columns indicated that biocompost application affected both metribuzin breakthrough time and maximum concentration in the leachate. Leaching losses of metribuzin were drastically reduced from 93% in control soil (T‐0) to 65% (T‐1) and 31% (T‐2) in biocompost‐amended soils. CONCLUSION: Biocompost from sugarcane distillery effluent can be used effectively to reduce downward mobility of metribuzin in low‐organic‐matter sandy loam soil. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry