Effects of some phenylamide herbicides and their degradation products on soil nitrification

Abstract

The effects on nitrification as studied by soil perfusion techniques of the herbicides 3′, 4′-dichloro-propionanilide (propanil), 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea (diuron), 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea (linuron), and the compounds 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea (DMU), 3, 4-dichlorophenylurea (DU), 3, 4-dichloroaniline (3, 4-DCA), and 3, 3′,4, 4′-tetrachloroazobenzene (TCAB) are reported. Propanil at a concentration of 100 μg/g of soil resulted in marked retardation of the nitrification process for about 2 months. High application rates of linuron, diuron, DU, and TCAB were required to inhibit nitrification. Among the degradation products, 3, 4-DCA inhibited the oxidation of NH4-N to NO2-N, but was inactive against the organisms oxidizing NO2-N to NO3-N. DMU inhibited the oxidation of NO2-N to NO3-N by Nitrobacter spp., resulting in accumulations of NO2-N in soil from NH4-N. Moreover, the presence of DMU could be detected within 1 month after application of either linuron or diuron to soil by the changes in normal nitrification patterns. The significance of antimicrobial activity of the herbicides and degradation products is discussed.