Accelerated Degradation Potential of Selected Herbicides in the Southeastern United States

Abstract

The influence of previous herbicide applications on the degradation rate of butylate [S-ethyl bis (2-methylpropyl)carbamothioate], EPTC (S-ethyl dipropyl carbamothioate), alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethyl-phenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide], and metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] was measured. Degradation studies were conducted on soils with zero to eight previous applications of butylate, zero and six consecutive annual applications of alachlor, and zero to seven previous applications of metolachlor. Previous applications of alachlor or of metolachlor did not affect the rate of degradation when the same herbicide was reapplied. Soils with previous butylate-use history had more rapid degradation of butylate or EPTC than soils with no previous butylate applications. Because soil sterilization reduced14CO2evolution to a low level, soil microorganisms could be the primary mechanism of butylate degradation. There was no difference between butylate or EPTC degradation rate in soils treated previously with butylate. Butylate could not be detected 28 days after treatment in soils previously treated with butylate, whereas soils not previously treated with butylate still contained biologically active butylate. Dietholate (O,O-diethylO-phenyl phosphorothioate) added to butylate generally reduced the rate of butylate degradation in soils previously treated with butylate, but the butylate concentration always was lower in soils treated previously with butylate than in soils without previous butylate applications. Weed control in the field showed rapid loss of butylate and EPTC in soils with previous butylate treatment and that dietholate reduced the rate of butylate and EPTC degradation.