Degradation and Dissipation Studies of Isoproturon in a Silty Clay Loam from Norway

Degradation and dissipation studies in laboratory and field were performed with isoproturon (IPU) to produce data for modelling the fate of an autumn applied pesticide in a Gleyic Podzoluvisol in Norway. Transformation rate studies of IPU in the laboratory during 8 weeks displayed a DT 50 of 13 days in topsoil (0-20 cm) and 21 days in subsoil (20-40 cm) at 20°C. In topsoil, a decline in the content of the metabolite monodesmethyl-isoproturon (MMU) was observed along with an initial production of didesmethyl-isoproturon (MU) after 4 weeks. In subsoil, the content of MMU was stabilized and no decrease was observed during the experiment. Only trace amounts of MU were found in the subsoil. Field dissipation of IPU was investigated in a silty clay loam following post-emergence application to winter wheat (September 1999). A bromide tracer was used to monitor the water flow in the soil profile. Soil was sampled from the 0-20, 20-40, 40-60 and 60-80 cm layers after 1, 2, 4, 13, 62, 232 and 371 days. 13 days after herbicide application, the waterfront had reached a depth of 80 cm and as a result an amount of 7 mg IPU m m 3 could be recovered from this depth, representing 2% of the initial amount of herbicide applied. Less than 9% of the herbicide applied could be seen to penetrate below 20 cm soil depth. After 62 days, only 18% of the initial IPU amount applied could be recovered from the profile. Using the results from the laboratory degradation study, a theoretical DT 50 of IPU in the field was estimated to 18-25 days ( Q 10 = 2.2). The theoretical DT 50 corresponded well with the actual dissipation of IPU observed in the field. This indicated that degradation of IPU was the primary contribution to the fast dissipation of IPU in the field, and that the risk of runoff of IPU was negligible. Appearance of the major degradation product MMU in the field was monitored during the entire experimental period, at most representing 11% of the initial herbicide concentration. Field studies showed that MMU was more easily transported below the plough layer than isoproturon. Traces of IPU and MMU could be found in soil one year after application. A second degradation product, MU, could not be recovered in quantifiable amounts in the soil samples.