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Trifluralin Movement in Runoff from a Small Agricultural Watershed
Author(s) -
Rohde W. A.,
Asmussen L. E.,
Hauser E. W.,
Wauchope R. D.,
Allison H. D.
Publication year - 1980
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/jeq1980.00472425000900010011x
Subject(s) - trifluralin , surface runoff , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , watershed , surface water , soil water , agronomy , soil science , pesticide , environmental engineering , ecology , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering , machine learning , computer science
Little trifluralin ( α,α,α ‐trifluoro‐2,6.dinitro‐ N,N ‐dipropyl‐ p ‐toluidine) moved in the surface flow from a small agricultural watershed located in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Movement of trifluralin in 1974 and 1975 in surface water was 0.17 and 0.03%, respectively, of the total amount applied (1.12 kg/ha). Trifluralin movement in the shallow subsurface flow (above the 214 cm depth) was recorded only in 1974 and was negligible. Trifluralin was detectable in the soil from the 1974 application before the 1975 application. Soil concentration of trifluralin in 1974 was 320 ng/g (immediately after application) in the 0‐ to 10‐cm depth and after 114 days the concentration decreased to 73 ng/g. However, no trifluralin was detected in the 30‐ to 60‐cm depth 60 days after application. Simulated surface runoff from subplots on the watershed produced measurable concentrations of trifluralin 38 days after application, but it could not be detected after 71 days. Trifluralin movement was greater in runoff caused by simulated rainfall than that from natural rainfall due to the high application rate of water (19.1 cm/hour) and the lack of a vegetational buffer. Trifluralin loss in the simulated rainfall runoff water from a small plot directed through a 24.4‐m waterway was reduced 96% under dry and 86% under wet conditions. Hence, trifluralin movement can be significantly reduced and possibly managed by buffer strips or vegetated waterways adjoining cropped areas. Appropriate use of these buffer areas should reduce to acceptable levels the chemical concentration in the runoff before the runoff reaches the surrounding streams.