ARS | Publication request: EFFECTS OF PROPANIL, DIURON AND ATRAZINE ON SUNSHINE BASS PLANKTON AND WATER QUALITY

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 6, 2004
Publication Date: January 17, 2005
Citation: Perschbacher, P., Ludwig, G.M., Edzigie, R. 2005. Effects of propanil, diuron and atrazine on sunshine bass plankton and water quality [abstract]. Book of Abstracts, Aquaculture America. p. 322.

Technical Abstract: Sunshine bass ponds, and most aquaculture ponds, are often adjacent to fields of row crops. Herbicide drift can impact plankton and water quality. Aerially-applied herbicides for soybeans, corn, cotton and rice were evaluated in 500-l outdoor mesocosms at the UAPB Aquaculture Research Station over the span of 8 years. Herbicides were applied to triplicate tanks filled with pond water pumped from 0.1ha production ponds at drift rates of 1% and 10% of field rates, with field rates and controls. Herbicides were applied when normally applied to fields. Critical water quality parameters and plankton populations were evaluated preapplication and daily until the systems recovered as judged by no significant difference in drift and control morning DO. Propanil, diuron and atrazine produced significant impacts and were evaluated similarly using sunshine bass pond water. No impacts were noted for diuron applied in April when used as a burndown for cotton.Atrazine, applied in May as a postemergent for corn,did not impact oxygen levels, but lowered rotifers, nauplii and copepods by up to 44, 70 and 25%, respectively, after 48-72 h. Propanil, applied in May and June on postemergent rice, at 20% drift reduced oxygen production by 34% and zooplankton numbers in half. Recovery was noted by 48 h for morning dissolved oxygen and chl.a was stimulated by 72 h. Major impact, as in atrazine, was on zooplankton and potentially on sunshine bass fry/fingerling pond production.