Degradation dynamics, correlations, and residues of carfentrazone-ethyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, and pinoxaden under the continuous application in the wheat field.

Weed infestation is a major biotic limitations in wheat cultivation; thus, various herbicides are being applied to control these weeds. Therefore, this study was undertaken for two successive years to assess degradation behaviours, persistence and residue risk imposed by carfentrazone, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl and pinoxaden sprayed as post-emergence herbicides in the wheat crop for management of weeds. Soil and crop samples were collected at periodically at after two hour of herbicide application till harvest of wheat crop and analysed by a high-performance liquid chromatograph. Degradation of carfentrazone, pinoxaden and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, in the soil of wheat field occurred rapid to moderately with the mean half-life 9.92, 11.7 and 11.8 days, respectively. Persistence was found to be dependent on the weather parameters as well as physicochemical properties of the soil and herbicides. Half-life of studied herbicides was found to be negatively correlated with persistence (R2 0.38, p = 0.05, n = 3) and vapour pressure (R2 0.99, p = 0.05, n = 3). Principal component analysis revealed that the first two Principal Components (PCs) had eigenvalues more than 1, and the first and second PCs contributed 77.4 and 22.6% in herbicide residues and different parameters variation, respectively. Terminal residues of carfentrazone, pinoxaden and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl in the wheat straw, grains and soil were found below the maximum residue limits. Owing to the moderate persistence under wheat field conditions, carfentrazone, pinoxaden and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl are supposed to be safe for control of weeds in wheat crop and hence, suspected risk on the human and environment or crop produce under evaluated doses is negligible.

Soil adsorption studies of a rice herbicide, cyhalofop-butyl, in two texturally different soils of India.

The ability of herbicides to be adsorbed by the soil and sediment and their tendency to be desorbed are some of the most important factors affecting soil and water contamination. Therefore, a sorption study was conducted to evaluate the adsorption of cyhalofop-butyl, butyl (2R)-2-[4-(4-cyano-2-fluorophenoxy) phenoxy] propanoate, in the sandy clay loam and clayey soils using a batch equilibrium method. The adsorption of cyhalofop-butyl was found positively related with the clay and organic carbon content. Freundlich constants (Kf) of cyhalofop-butyl in the clayey and sandy clay loam were found to be 13.39 and 2.21, respectively. Sorption coefficients (Koc) and distribution coefficients (Kd) were found to be 265.38 and 2,092.79, and 1.38 and 11.48, for sandy clay loam and clayey soils, respectively. The adsorption isotherm suggested a relatively higher affinity of cyhalofop-butyl to the adsorption sites at low equilibrium concentrations. The low value of the soil organic carbon partition coefficient (Koc) of cyhalofop-butyl in the sandy loam soil suggested its weaker adsorption in soil and thus increased its risk of mobility into water sources; hence, it should be used judiciously to prevent groundwater contamination.

Cyhalofop-p-butyl mobility and distribution of residues in soil at various depths.

This study was conducted to evaluate cyhalofop-p-butyl mobility in a sandy loam soil and subsequent distribution of residues at various depths under field conditions. Soil samples were taken from 0 to 150 cm depths at 3-90 d after rains in lysemeter of 1 and 2 m depths. Cyhalofop-p-butyl application at two rates and subsequent precipitation had a significant impact on soil, physico-chemical properties and herbicide mobility. Precipitation caused substantial mobility of cyhalofop-p-butyl in the soil and 1.1-7.6 µg L(-1) of cyhalofop-p-butyl was found in leachates. Cyhalofop-p-butyl residues in the leachates were probably due to preferential flow through the soil. Cyhalofop-p-butyl residues were detected in significant amounts from the soil up to 10 d, later, residues were found below the detection limit but its three transformation products viz., cyhalofop acid, diacid, and phenol were detected.

Dissipation of pendimethalin in the soil of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and detection of terminal residues in plants.

Dissipation of pendimethalin in the soil of field peas (Pisum sativum L.) at 0 to 110 days, and terminal residues in green and mature pea were studied under field conditions. Pendimethalin was applied as pre-emergence herbicide at 750, to 185 g a.i. ha(-1) in winter, in field peas. Dissipation of pendimethalin in the soil at 0 to 110 days followed first-order kinetics showing a half-life of 19.83 days averaged over all doses. Low pendimethalin residues were found in mature pea grain (0.004, 0.003, <0.001 µg g(-1)), and straw (0.007, 0.002, <0.001 µg g(-1)) at 750, 350 and 185 g a.i. ha(-1) treatments, respectively. The study indicated that residues of pendimethalin in green and mature pea were within the prescribed MRL limits.

Fungal degradation of an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in soil.

Owing to reported phytotoxicity of some sulfonylurea class of herbicides in number of sensitive crops and higher persistence in soil, present study was conducted to isolate and identify pyrazosulfuron-ethyl degrading fungi from soil of rice field. Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger, were isolated and identified from rhizospere soil of rice field, as potent pyrazosulfuron-ethyl degrading fungi. Degradation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl by P. chrysogenum and A. niger, yielded transformation products/metabolites which were identified and characterized by LC/MS/MS. The rate of dissipation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl was found higher in soil of rice field and soil inoculated with P. chrysogenum. This showed important route of degradation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl by microbes apart from chemical degradation.

Deltamethrin induced toxicity and ameliorative effect of alpha-tocopherol in broilers.

Deltamethrin (DM) is a broad-spectrum insecticide mainly used to protect crops, fruit and vegetables from pests such as mites, ants, weevils and beetles. Birds, animals and human beings living in same ecosystem are directly or indirectly at the risk of exposure to this insecticide leading to substantial decrease in growth. Thus we studied DM induced toxicity and ameliorative effects of alpha-tocopherol in broiler birds. DM was estimated in liver, breast and leg muscles of chickens feeding with only DM or DM with alpha-tocopherol daily for 42 days. Birds exposed to DM showed a dose dependent decrease in body weight on 5th, 6th and 7th weeks as compared to controls, and alpha-tocopherol partially restored the reduction in body weight. DM residue was found higher in liver as compared to breast and leg muscles.

Phytotoxic furanocoumarins from the shoots of Semenovia transiliensis.

Discovery of novel, natural herbicides has become important to manage increasing weed resistance to synthetic herbicides and environmental issues. The systematic bioassay-guided fractionation and purification of the methylene chloride/methanol extract of the shoots of Semenovia transiliensis led to the isolation of several phytotoxic compounds. Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce, a dicot) and Agrostis stolonifera L. (bentgrass, a monocot) bioassays were used to identify and isolate the phytotoxic fractions. A number of furanocoumarin compounds isolated from S. transiliensis shoots were phytotoxic to both test species. These included psoralen, isopsoralen, heratomin, isopentenyloxyisobergapten, imperatorin, bergapten, xanthotoxin, heraclenin, and heraclenol. All the active secondary metabolites isolated from the shoots of S. transiliensis were furanocoumarins. Identification of these was accomplished using mass spectrometry and 1- and 2-dimensional NMR techniques. Phytotoxic activity o f isolated compounds w a s evaluated in a dose-response manner from 0.3 to 1000 microM. Ingeneral, all of the compounds were more active on A. stolonifera than L. sativa. Bergaptin and xanthotoxin were the most active of the compounds, with moderate activity at 100 microM. Imperatorin and xanthotoxin inhibited growth of Lemna paucicostata Hegelm. by 50% at 29 and 60 microM, respectively. Our results show that S. transiliensis is rich in furanocoumarins, which are probably involved in various aspects of the chemical ecology of the species. Unfortunately, the general cytotoxicity of furanocoumarins makes them an unlikely candidate for pesticide discovery.

Dissipation of pendimethalin in soil and its residues in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under field conditions.

Disappearance of pendimethalin in the soil of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at 0-110 days, and terminal residues in plant samples have been studied under field conditions. Pendimethalin was applied as pre-emergence herbicide at 750, 350 and 180 g a.i. ha(-1) in winter, in chickpea crop. The dissipation of pendimethalin in the chickpea field soil conditions followed first order kinetics showing a half-life of 11.23 days averaged over all doses. Low pendimethalin residues were found in plant samples. 0.025, 0.015, <0.001 µg g(-1) residues of pendimethalin were found in grains at 750, 350 and 185 g a.i. ha(-1) treatments, respectively. Much lower pendimethalin residues were found in straw viz. 0.015 to <0.001 µg g(-1) at 750, 350 and 185 g a.i. ha(-1) treatments, respectively.

Persistence and bioaccumulation of oxyfluorfen residues in onion.

A field study was conducted to determine persistence and bioaccumulation of oxyflorfen residues in onion crop at two growth stages. Oxyfluorfen (23.5% EC) was sprayed at 250 and 500 g ai/ha on the crop (variety, N53). Mature onion and soil samples were collected at harvest. Green onion were collected at 55 days from each treated and control plot and analyzed for oxyfluorfen residues by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with an accepted recovery of 78-92% at the minimum detectable concentration of 0.003 microg g(-1). Analysis showed 0.015 and 0.005 microg g(-1) residues of oxyfluorfen at 250 g a.i. ha(-1) rate in green and mature onion samples, respectively; however, at 500 g a.i.ha(-1) rates, 0.025 and 0.011 microg g(-1) of oxyfluorfen residues were detected in green and mature onion samples, respectively. Soil samples collected at harvest showed 0.003 and 0.003 microg g(-1) of oxyfluorfen residues at the doses 250 and 500 g a.i. ha(-1), respectively. From the study, a pre-harvest interval of 118 days for onion crop after the herbicide application is suggested.

Persistence of metsulfuron-methyl in paddy field and detection of its residues in crop produce.

Among sulfonylurea herbicides, metsulfuron-methyl [methyl 2-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2-ylcarbamoylsulfamoyl) benzoic acid] is widely used due to its selectivity against a wide range of weeds in cereal, pasture, and plantation crops. Use of persistent herbicides has increased risk of accumulation of residues in soil, groundwater, crop produce, food chain etc. Thus an experiment was conducted to see persistence of metsulfuron-methyl in paddy field under tropical conditions. Metsulfuron-methyl was applied at 2, 4, 5, and 8 a.i. g ha−1 rates after 25 days in transplanted rice as post emergence herbicide. Concentration of metsulfuron-methyl in soil at 30 days was found 0.008, 0.010, 0.011 and 0.016 µg g−1 at 2, 4, 5 and 8 g a.i. ha−1 application rates, respectively. However, residue level of metsulfuron-methyl in soil, rice grains and straw at harvest was found below 0.001 µg g−1.

Leaching behaviour of metsulfuron in two texturally different soils.

Nowadays, herbicides are applied large ly in India, creating the need to evaluate potential leaching of herbicides. Thus leaching potential of metsulfuron in sandy loam and clay loam soils conditions was evaluated under laboratory conditions with simulated rainfall of 318-mm. Metsulfuron-methyl was applied at 4 and 8 g a.i. ha(-1) on soil columns, respectively. Maximum concentration of metsulfuron was recovered from 0-20 cm depths in both the soils. Results indicated high mobility of metsulfuron under continuous saturated moisture condition that may be significant in terms of ground water contamination.

Persistence of sulfosulfuron under wheat cropping system.

Presence of herbicides residue in the soil not only damages the succeeding sensitive crops but also adversely affect human and animal health due to bioaccumulation of residues in crop produce. Thus an experiment was conducted to evaluate persistence of sulfosulfuron residues applied in wheat crop as post-emergence at 25, 50 and 100 g ai ha(-1) application rates to control weeds. Residues were evaluated in surface and subsurface soil by HPLC using Photo diode array detector. Sulfosulfuron residues were dissipated rapidly in surface and subsurface soil at initial period. After150 days residues were found below 0.001 microg/g in soil samples collected from 25 to 50 g ha(-1) treated plots. However, at 100 g ha(-1) dose residues were not detected after 200 days in surface and subsurface soil.

Persistence of metsulfuron-methyl in wheat crop and soil.

Possible bioaccumulation of pesticides in crop produce may cause ailing effect on animal and human. Thus there is a need to evaluate these chemicals in the soil and crop produce at harvest. Metsulfuron-methyl is a post-emergence herbicide. It is highly active to control broad-leaf weeds in cererals, pasture and plantation crops. Metsulfuron-methyl was applied at 3, 4, 5, and 8 g a.i. ha(-1) rates, after 30 days of sowing in wheat as post-emergence herbicide. Soil samples treated with metsulfuron-methyl were collected after 30 and 60 days along with control and at harvest after herbicide application and analyzed for residues by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) using photo diode array detector at 220 nm. Wheat grains and straw samples were sampled at harvest. At harvest the residue level of metsulfuron-methyl in soil was found below the detection limit at 3-5 g a.i. ha(-1) application rates and 0.002 microg g(-1) at 8 g a.i. ha(-1), respectively. No residues of metsulfuron-methyl were detected in wheat grains at 3-4 g a.i. ha(-1) rates. However 0.002 microg g(-1) residues were detected in wheat straw at 5 and 8 g a.i. ha(-1) application rates. It can be concluded that metsulfuron-methyl application at 3-4 g a.i. ha(-1) can be safely applied to the wheat crop as post-emergence herbicide.

Determination of imazosulfuron persistence in rice crop and soil.

Imazosulfuron is a new post-emergence sulfonylurea herbicide. It is highly active at low application rates to control annual and perennial broad-leaf weeds and sedges in rice. There is increasing concerned about the persistence of pesticide residues in soils, crop produce and subsequent contamination of groundwater. Thus persistence of imazosulfuron residues under field condition was evaluated. Imazosulfuron was applied at 30, 40, 50 and 60 a. i. g ha (-1) rates, 4 days after transplanting of rice as post-emergence herbicide. Soil and plant samples treated with imazosulfuron were collected at 60, 90 and 120 days after herbicide application and analyzed for residues. Rice grains and straw samples were sampled at harvest (120 days). Residues of imazosulfuron in soil were not found after 90 and 120 DAS (days after spraying). Rice grains contained 0.006, 0.009 microg g(-1) residues at 50 and 60 g ha (-1) application rates. 0.009 and 0.039 microg g(-1) residues of imazosulfuron were detected at 50 and 60 g/ha rates respectively in rice straw. Residues of imazosulfuron were not detected applied at 30 and 40 g ha(-1) in rice grains and straw, respectively and can be safely applied to the transplanted rice.