Field Persistence of Repeated Use of Atrazine in Sandy Clay Loam Soil under Maize
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Author:P. Janaki, S. Meena, C. Chinnusamy, P. Murali Arthanari and K. Nalini
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:99, Issue:jul-sep
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100133
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted with maize as a test crop during 2006-2009 to study the
effect of atrazine on its persistence and residue in soil and crop produce as influenced by the
quantity of application and seasons. The treatments imposed were control, 0.5 and 1.0 kg ai
of atrazine ha-1 and were replicated thrice in randomized block design. For residue analysis,
the soil samples were collected at periodical intervals from 0 day to harvest and the crop
produce were also sampled at post harvest. The atrazine was determined using GC equipped
with FID detector. Persistence of atrazine in soil showed a gradual degradation with
advancement in crop growth. The application of atrazine at recommended dose left no residue
in the soil whereas the application of atrazine at double the recommended dose recorded
0.056 ppm of atrazine residue in the post harvest soil. Pooled data showed that the dissipation
of atrazine was biphasic in nature and the degradation was faster at higher dose of application
than at the lower dose. Degradation of atrazine in soil followed first order kinetics and the
mean half life of atrazine was 21.54 days. Persistence of atrazine was also influenced by the
season and years of application.
Key words : Atrazine, persistence, maize, half life, seasonal influence