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Soil Properties Influencing DDT Bioactivity
Author(s) -
Peterson J. R.,
Adams R. S.,
Cutkomp L. K.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1971.03615995003500010024x
Subject(s) - loam , soil water , environmental chemistry , organic matter , sorption , soil test , cation exchange capacity , silt , soil science , chemistry , population , bioassay , total organic carbon , environmental science , ecology , adsorption , geology , biology , paleontology , demography , organic chemistry , sociology
The study was conducted to determine the important soil variables affecting the bioactivity of DDT in soils to Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. Mathematical prediction equations were derived. Failure of the bioassay technique to be generally applicable necessitated division of the 31 soil samples used into two groups. The LD 50 (lethal dose for 50% of the population) to D. melanogaster ranged from 43 µg DDT/g of soil in a Hubbard loamy sand subsurface sample to 790 µg/g in a Blue Earth silt loam subsurface sample. With one group of soils, a regression equation using organic carbon, fine clay, and 0.1 N HCl extractable Fe contents and cation exchange capacity described 97% of the variability in LD 50 . With a second group of soils, exhibiting much higher DDT bioactivity, a regression equation using organic carbon content and field moisture capacity described 91% of the variability. The results indicated that sorption of DDT by soil organic matter was the principal means of deactivation.