Degradation and Leaching of Simazine in Arctic Sandy Soils

Abstract

Abstract Degradation and leaching of 14C-labelled simazine in coarse sandy soils at 15 + 1°C were investigated using radiometric and mass-spectrometric methods. During 6 months incubation approx. 4–7% of the applied 14C-simazine was evolved as 14CO2. 4–9% of the simazine still remained in the soil. Addition of hen manure or acidification by addition of peat did not clearly influence the rate of degradation of simazine, whereas mechanical treatment significantly increased its degradation. In a nitrogen atmosphere the rate of degradation of simazine was reduced. 9–15% of the simazine or its radioactive metabolites leached through a 33 cm sandy moraine soil column (diameter 6 cm) in ca. 1770 mm of precipitation over a 4 month period, and 2% was leached from a fine sand soil under the same conditions.