Bioremediating herbicide-contaminated soils.

Abstract

Combinations of landfarming and biostimulation were evaluated for remediating pesticide wastes. Various amounts of soil contaminated with alachlor and trifluralin (> or = 100 mg/kg each) and metolachlor and atrazine (> or = 20 mg/kg each) were applied to field plots, and sewage sludge or corn meal was incorporated into designated plots. Plots were also treated with fresh spray mixtures in amounts similar to those applied as contaminated soil. Soil bioactivity and dissipation of parent herbicides were monitored after the treatments. During 100 d, soil dehydrogenase activities were highest in organic-material-amended plots. During the same period, the levels of alachlor had declined by 85-95% in amended, contaminated soil-treated plots and by 75-85% in corresponding unamended plots. In freshly sprayed plots, 95-100% of the initial doses of alachlor had dissipated in amended plots, and 85-95% was lost in corresponding unamended plots. The levels of trifluralin had declined by 70-80% in corn-meal-amended plots and by 60-75% in unamended plots. There were no significant differences between dissipation of trifluralin applied as contaminated soil or fresh sprays.