Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #204461
Title: A RAPID ASSAY TO DETECT ENHANCED ATRAZINE DEGRADATION IN SOIL

Author
item Shaner, Dale
item Henry, William
item Krutz, Larry
item Hanson, Bradley

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2006
Publication Date: 2/6/2007
Citation: Shaner, D.L., Henry, W.B., Krutz, L.J., Hanson, B.D. 2007. A rapid assay to detect enhanced atrazine degradation in soil. Weed Science Society of America Annual meeting, Februarlly 5-9, 2007 and WSWS Meeting March 2007.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A Rapid Assay to Detect Enhanced Atrazine Degradation in Soil Dale L. Shaner, W. Brien Henry, Brad Hanson and Jason Krutz Enhanced atrazine degradation has been documented in soil from fields that have been treated with atrazine for 5 or more years resulting in loss of residual weed control. A rapid assay was developed to screen soils for enhanced atrazine degradation. Field moist soil was collected and stored at 4 C until analyzed. In the assay 50 g of soil is placed in a 125-250 mL capped jar, spiked with 7.5 mL of 5 ppm atrazine in water and incubated at room temperature (24 C). The atrazine is extracted from the soil with a simple water extraction and analyzed via HPLC. Soils were collected from fields with different histories of atrazine use from Illinois, Colorado, California, and Mississippi. The soils ranged from fine silt loams to sands. The half lives of atrazine from fields with long histories of atrazine use were less than 1 d whereas the half life was between 8 and 11.5 d in soils with no history of atrazine use. Field tests confirmed the rapid dissipation of atrazine in soils which the assay indicated would quickly degrade the herbicide. The assay was simple, required minimal equipment and used no organic solvents. It should be useful for screening fields for enhanced atrazine degradation.