Degradation of Fluometuron in Sandy Loam Soil

Abstract

Degradation of 1,1-dimethyl-3-(a,a,a-trifluoro-m-tolyl) urea (fluometuron) in a sandy loam soil was investigated in time-course and 14CO2 evolution studies. Degradation occurred only in nonautoclaved samples and was more rapid in glucose-amended soil, indicating that it is a function of microbial metabolism. Time-course studies showed that the pathway of degradation of fluometuron in soil is similar to that previously reported for other substituted ureas, involving a two-step demethylation, probably followed by hydrolysis of the urea linkage to form the aniline derivative. Further evidence for degradation was a small but significant recovery of 14CO2 from soil treated with fluometuron labeled in the trifluoromethyl group.