Adsorption, Mobility, and Degradation of Cyanazine and Diuron in Soils

Abstract

In the field, surface applied cyanazine 2-[[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-s-triazin-2-yl] amino]-2-methylpropionitrile and diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] did not move below 5 cm in a Monona silty clay loam (Typic Hapludoll) which received 20 cm of water over a 54-day period. In hand-packed soil columns in the laboratory, surface-applied diuron and cyanazine penetrated to depths of 10 and 20 cm, respectively, when leached over a comparable time period and with amounts of water similar to that used in the field. Soil thin layer chromatography and adsorption isotherm studies showed that diuron was adsorbed more strongly than was cyanazine. In general, both compounds were degraded more rapidly at the higher temperatures when incubated at 5, 20, 35, and 50 C over a 20-week period. Degradation was slowest at 5 C in a Valentine loamy fine sand (Typic Ustipsamment). Diuron appeared to break down most readily at 35 C. Cyanazine was usually decomposed by the 10th week at 5 C and the 5th week at higher temperatures.