Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314377
Title: Emissions of 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin after soil fumigation under field conditions

Author
item YATES, SCOTT
item ASHWORTH, DANIEL - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
item ZHENG, W - UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
item ZHANG, QIAOPING
item KNUTESON, J - FLUX EXPERTS
item VAN WESSENBEECK, I.J. - DOW AGRO SCIENCES

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2015
Publication Date: 5/22/2015
Citation: Yates, S.R., Ashworth, D.J., Zheng, W., Zhang, Q., Knuteson, J., Van Wessenbeeck, I. 2015. Emissions of 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin after soil fumigation under field conditions. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 63: 5354-5363.doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01309.

Interpretive Summary: The use of soil fumigant chemicals in modern agriculture has led to large increases in crop production and improved produce quality. However, fumigant volatilization is a primary mechanism leading to the release and accumulation of toxic chemicals in the environment. To assess the risks to ecosystems and human health from the effects of fumigant emissions, accurate measurement of volatilization rates and total emissions are critical. A field experiment was conducted to measure Telone C-35 (i.e., 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin) emissions after traditional soil fumigation practices. The field experiment was conducted during early September of 2007 and Telone C-35 was shank applied at a depth of 46 cm. Several methods were used to measure the volatilization rate. The results from the field study indicate that approximately 16 to 35% of the total applied 1,3-dichloropropene and from 0.3 to 1.3% of the chloropicrin applied during the experiment were released to the atmosphere. The unexpectedly low values for chloropicrin volatilization were due to high soil degradation rates observed at this field site. Laboratory studies confirmed that chloropicrin volatilization would be low for this field soil, but higher volatilization rates would be expected at other field locations with typical soil degradation rates. This study provides a baseline on emissions of 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin that can be used for comparison to studies employing emission-reduction technology. This research will help growers meet future regulations on toxic and VOC emissions and will provide valuable information for determining reasonable buffer zone sizes.

Technical Abstract: Soil fumigation is an important agronomic practice in the production of many high-value vegetable and fruit crops. The use of soil fumigant chemicals can lead to excessive atmospheric emissions and information is needed to develop best management practices so that use of soil fumigants does not harm human or ecosystem health. A large-scale field experiment was conducted to obtain volatilization and cumulative emission rates for two commonly-used soil fumigants: 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin. Over the course of the experiment, the daily peak volatilization rates ranged from 12 – 30 micro g m2/s for 1,3-D and 0.7 – 2.6 micro g m2/s for chloropicrin. Total emissions of 1,3-D and chloropicrin, respectively, were approximately 77 – 168 kg and 1 – 3 kg. This represents approximately 16 – 35% of the total 1,3-D and 0.3 – 1.3% of the chloropicrin applied during the experiment. A soil incubation study showed that the low volatilization rates measured for chloropicrin were due to particularly high soil degradation rates observed at this field site.