Kentucky State University
Impact of Soil Management on Herbicide Movement in Soil and Water
Institution
Kentucky State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
George F. Antonious
Abstract
Runoff from agricultural watersheds carry enormous amounts of pesticides. During crop production, pesticides may move from application site into runoff water and runoff sediment following irrigation systems or natural rainfall events. Organic amendments, commonly used to enrich soils of low organic matter content, can modify the soil surface and stimulate soil microbial activity which could potentially lead to pesticide degradation and reduce amount of chemical available for leaching. Field studies were conducted at Kentucky State University Research Farm (Franklin County, KY) to assess the influence of composted sewage sludge mixed with native soil at the rate of 50 tons/acre (on a dry weight basis) on trifluralin (Treflan) and napropamide (Devrinol) movement from the application site into runoff water. Following herbicide spraying, triplicate water samples were collected periodically for trifluralin and napropamide analysis using a gas chromatograph equipped with nitrogen-phosphorus detector. Results have indicated that the use of sewage sludge can become a useful technique for trapping non-polar pesticides such as trifluralin and may reduce surface and groundwater contamination by non-polar pesticides.
Impact of Soil Management on Herbicide Movement in Soil and Water
Runoff from agricultural watersheds carry enormous amounts of pesticides. During crop production, pesticides may move from application site into runoff water and runoff sediment following irrigation systems or natural rainfall events. Organic amendments, commonly used to enrich soils of low organic matter content, can modify the soil surface and stimulate soil microbial activity which could potentially lead to pesticide degradation and reduce amount of chemical available for leaching. Field studies were conducted at Kentucky State University Research Farm (Franklin County, KY) to assess the influence of composted sewage sludge mixed with native soil at the rate of 50 tons/acre (on a dry weight basis) on trifluralin (Treflan) and napropamide (Devrinol) movement from the application site into runoff water. Following herbicide spraying, triplicate water samples were collected periodically for trifluralin and napropamide analysis using a gas chromatograph equipped with nitrogen-phosphorus detector. Results have indicated that the use of sewage sludge can become a useful technique for trapping non-polar pesticides such as trifluralin and may reduce surface and groundwater contamination by non-polar pesticides.