Effect of peat, compost, and charcoal on transport of fipronil in clay loam soil and sandy clay loam soil

Abstract

This study used 30 cm long packed by 3 kg soil columns to explore the effects of peat, compost, and charcoal at 5% on the movement of fipronil (99.9 % purity) in clay loam soil and sandy clay loam soil. The soil columns were preconditioned with calcium chloride solution (0.01 M) before applying the pesticide and potassium iodide. Potassium iodide solution (0.2 M) was added at a rate of 10 mL as a water tracer and a quantity of fipronil solution (10 µg g-1soil) was applied on the soil surface of each column. Next, fipronil was leached from the soil columns with a calcium chloride solution (0.1 M) and the leachates were collected and analyzed. The results show that water tracer I- leached fast in soil columns. The breakthrough curve of fipronil appeared from leachates of soil columns after iodide for a while, indicating that fipronil is a moderate or lower mobile compound depending on type of soil and type of soil amendments. In general, adding soil amendments (peat, compost, and charcoal) to clay loam soil and sandy clay loam soil resulted in improved fipronil adsorption and decreased the amount of fipronil that leached into groundwater. This study is very useful for preserving groundwater from pollution, especially in the Middle East due to the lack of water sources.