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Sterile and Nonsterile Degradation of Carbon‐14‐Primisulfuron in Soil from Four Depths
Author(s) -
Miller J. L.,
Wollum A. G.,
Weber J. B.
Publication year - 1997
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/jeq1997.00472425002600020015x
Subject(s) - microcosm , chemistry , residue (chemistry) , bioremediation , environmental chemistry , contamination , microbial biodegradation , degradation (telecommunications) , biodegradation , soil contamination , bacteria , biology , microorganism , biochemistry , organic chemistry , ecology , genetics , telecommunications , computer science
The degradation of 14 C‐primisulfuron (2‐4,6‐bis(difluoromethoxy)‐2‐pyrimidinyl]amino]carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl] benzoic acid) was monitored for 2 mo using soil microcosms under sterile and nonsterile conditions. Both chemical and biological degradation was detected. The half‐life was 2.1 wk for nonsterile samples from 0 to 5 cm, and 3.4 wk for nonsterile samples from 20 to 25 cm. After 7 wk, bound residues accounted for 48 and 27% of the recovered radioactivity in these samples, respectively. For sterile samples from the same depths, the half‐life was >7 wk and bound residues accounted for 7% of the recovered radiolabel. Disappearance and bound residue formation of primisulfuron were similar for both sterile and nonsterile samples from deeper in the profile (45–75 cm) indicating little biological degradation occurred in these subsurface samples. Chemical and microbial degradation of primisulfuron appeared to differ; the same metabolites were produced but at different times and in different amounts. Very little 14 CO 2 (<3%) was produced from any sample. These results indicate that initial hydrolyzation of the sulfonylurea bridge occurs both chemically and biologically, but does not occur readily in the subsoil. This may have implications for the prevention of groundwater contamination and for the bioremediation of contaminated soils.