The sorption and degradation of the rice pesticides fipronil and thiobencarb on two Australian rice soils

Abstract

The sorption and degradation of the rice pesticides fipronil and thiobencarb on 2 Australian rice-growing soils were investigated. Greater sorption of both pesticides occurred on the soil containing less organic carbon, possibly as a result of the type of organic carbon present, rather than the absolute amount. While sorption tended to appear greater in the 0–10 mm layer than the 10–20 mm layer, analysis showed the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Under aerobic conditions, a lag period of 20 days in the degradation of thiobencarb occurred on the Yanco soil, but rapid degradation occurred on the Coleambally soil, and, while unlikely, may have been a consequence of preconditioning of the Coleambally soil microbial population. Degradation of thiobencarb under both non-flooded anaerobic and flooded anaerobic conditions differed significantly (P < 0.05) compared to aerobic conditions. Conversely, fipronil degraded rapidly over the first few days and then slowed, and was attributed to the co-metabolism of fipronil by soil microbes. While fipronil sulfide was produced under all oxic/anoxic conditions, its concentration was greatest under flooded anaerobic conditions, possibly as a result of greater exclusion of oxygen from the soil by the floodwater.