Degradation of co-applied Atrazine and Fipronil in Phanerochaete Chrysosporium Augmented Biobeds.

ABSTRACT

White rot fungi possess an enzymatic system that is non-specific to any pesticide and can be used for pesticide detoxification in biobeds. The present study evaluated potential of Phanerochaete chrysosporium to degrade co-applied atrazine and fipronil in ash or biochar biomixtures. Five biomixtures were prepared by partially replacing compost in rice straw-compost biomixture (BM) with 10% rice husk ash (RHA), 10% sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA), and 1 and 5% wheat straw biochar (WBC). Results suggested that after 30 days P. chrysosporium augmented biobeds resulted in 60.52-72.72% atrazine and 69.57-72.52% fipronil degradation. Hydroxyatrazine and fipronil sulfone were detected as the only metabolite of atrazine and fipronil, respectively, and were further degraded. Although, SBA significantly enhanced atrazine degradation, RHA or SBA had no significant effect on fipronil degradation. WBC (5%) slowed down degradation of both pesticides.