The study of metribuzin migration in lysimeters

Abstract

Metribuzin is a mobile pesticide widely used in agriculture and has great potential for soil migration. In addition, weather and soil conditions in the non-chernozem zone of Russia contribute to the movement of pesticides in the soil. The behaviour of metribuzin was studied in a lysimetric experiment. The experiment was carried out at the lysimeters of the Soil Research Station of Moscow State University from June 2016 to December 2017. Mertribuzin was applied in lysimeters in maximum recommended and eightfold rates two years in a row. Used in the recommended rate, metribuzin was detected in the samples of lysimetric water once at a concentration of 14 µg L-1 (6% of the samples analyzed). Applied in the eightfold rate, it was detected in 39.5% of samples, the maximum concentration was 180 µg L-1. The experiment revealed that metribuzin is able to leach bottom of the soil profile. The concentration of metribuzin found in the variant with the recommended rate is lower than the hygienic index adopted in Russian Federation for metribuzin, which indicates that the risk of metribuzin application for people is low.