Degradation of atrazine and isoproturon in surface and sub‐surface soil materials undergoing different moisture and aeration conditions

The influence of different moisture and aeration conditions on the degradation of atrazine and isoproturon was investigated in environmental samples aseptically collected from surface and sub‐surface zones of agricultural land. The materials were maintained at two moisture contents corresponding to just above field capacity or 90% of field capacity. Another two groups of samples were adjusted with water to above field capacity, and, at zero time, exposed to drying–rewetting cycles. Atrazine was more persistent ( t 1/2 = 22–35 days) than isoproturon ( t 1/2 = 5–17 days) in samples maintained at constant moisture conditions. The rate of degradation for both herbicides was higher in samples maintained at a moisture content of 90% of field capacity than in samples with higher moisture contents. The reduction in moisture content in samples undergoing desiccation from above field capacity to much lower than field capacity enhanced the degradation of isoproturon ( t 1/2 = 9–12 days) but reduced the rate of atrazine degradation ( t 1/2 = 23–35 days). This demonstrates the variability between different micro‐organisms in their susceptibility to desiccation. Under anaerobic conditions generated in anaerobic jars, atrazine degraded much more rapidly than isoproturon in materials taken from three soil profiles (0–250 cm depth). It is suggested that some specific micro‐organisms are able to survive and degrade herbicide under severe conditions of desiccation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry