Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137165
Title: FATE OF METOLACHLOR DURING WINTER IN THE NORTHERN US CORN BELT

Author
item Sharratt, Brenton
item SANDER, K - AG RELIANCE
item TIERNEY, D - SYNGENTA

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2002
Publication Date: 11/14/2002
Citation: SHARRATT, B.S., SANDER, K., TIERNEY, D. FATE OF METOLACHLOR DURING WINTER IN THE NORTHERN US CORN BELT. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI: AMERICAN SOCIEY OF AGRONOMY. 2002.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fall application of herbicides is of interest to land managers who seek to reduce the number of field operations during spring in the northern Corn Belt. A limited number of herbicides, however, possess the physical characteristics that are required to minimize loss from soil over winter. This study examined the fate of one of these herbicides, metolachlor, during three consecutive winters near Morris, MN. Metolachlor was applied to repacked columns of clay loam. The columns were installed in the field soil profile in early November and extracted from the field throughout the winter. Columns were then sectioned and analyzed for metolachlor. At the time of complete soil thaw in spring, the majority of metolachlor was detected in the zone of application (0-5 cm depth). Some metolachlor was detected below the zone of application each year. This study suggests that fall-applied metolachlor moves little in a clay loam profile during winter.