Degradation of Dicamba, Picloram, and Four Phenoxy Herbicides in Soils

Abstract

The degradation rates of 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], dichlorprop [2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid], 2,4,5-T [(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], silvex [2,(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)propionic acid], dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid), and picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) were determined in three soils. Herbicide breakdown was proportional to herbicide concentration, so half life of the various herbicides was calculated from linear regression of the logarithm transformed residue data. The average half life for 2,4-D, dichlorprop, silvex, 2,4,5-T, dicamba, and picloram were, respectively, 4 days, 10 days, 17 days, 20 days, 25 days, and greater than 100 days. The rate of degradation of 2,4-D was the same in all three soils, but for the other herbicides it was consistently faster in soil removed from under grass vegetation than from under trees.