Premium
Microbial Versus Chemical Degradation of Malathion in Soil
Author(s) -
Walker W. W.,
Stojanovic B. J.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1973.00472425000200020012x
Subject(s) - malathion , loam , degradation (telecommunications) , chemistry , environmental chemistry , soil water , microbial biodegradation , hydrolysis , serial dilution , organic matter , aqueous solution , soil contamination , pesticide , environmental science , agronomy , microorganism , organic chemistry , bacteria , soil science , biology , telecommunications , genetics , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , computer science
Chemical and microbiological degradation of malathion was studied in three Mississippi soils (Trinity loam, Freestone sandy loam, and Okolona clay) and their aqueous dilutions. Malathion abatement in all cases was more rapid under non‐sterile than under sterile conditions, indicating the involvement of the soil microflora in malathion dissipation. Malathion disappearance under sterile conditions was interpreted as chemical degradation. The magnitude of microbial as compared to chemical degradation seemed to increase with increasing soil organic matter and was directly dependent on soil pH. Microbiological degradation predominated in all three test soils and their aqueous dilutions. The greatest amount of chemical degradation occurred in Okolona clay. Malathion was quite stable under neutral or acid pH conditions, but was susceptible to hydrolysis in the alkaline pH range.