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Surface Runoff of Pesticides from a Clay Loam Field in Sweden
Author(s) -
Larsbo Mats,
Sandin Maria,
Jarvis Nick,
Etana Ararso,
Kreuger Jenny
Publication year - 2016
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/jeq2015.10.0528
Subject(s) - surface runoff , environmental science , snowmelt , loam , pesticide , growing season , hydrology (agriculture) , surface water , atrazine , leaching (pedology) , agronomy , soil water , soil science , environmental engineering , ecology , geology , geotechnical engineering , biology
Pesticides stored at or close to the soil surface after field application can be mobilized and transported off the field when surface runoff occurs. The objective of our study was to quantify the potential pesticide losses in surface runoff from a conventionally managed agricultural field in a Swedish climate. This was achieved by measuring surface runoff volumes and concentrations in runoff of six spring‐applied pesticides and autumn‐applied glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). Measurements were performed for 3 yr both during the growing seasons and during intervening winter snowmelt periods on a clay loam field close to Uppsala. During growing seasons, surface runoff was generated on only five occasions during one 25‐d period in 2012 when the infiltration capacity of the soil may have been reduced by structural degradation due to large cumulative rainfall amounts after harrowing. Concentrations in surface runoff exceeded Swedish water quality standards in all samples during this growing season for diflufenican and pirimicarb. Surface runoff was generated during three snowmelt periods during the winter of 2012–2013. All of the applied pesticides were found in snowmelt samples despite incorporation of residues by autumn plowing, degradation, and leaching into the soil profile during the period between spraying and sampling. Concentrations of glyphosate ranged from 0.12 to 7.4 μg L −1 , and concentrations of AMPA ranged from 0 to 2.7 μg L −1 . Our results indicate that temporal changes in hydraulic properties during the growing season and when the soil freezes during winter affect pesticide losses through surface runoff. Core Ideas Pesticide concentrations often exceeded Swedish water quality standards. All of the applied pesticides were found in samples taken during snowmelt. Total pesticide losses were small due to small surface runoff volumes. Temporal changes in hydraulic properties affected losses in surface runoff.