Evaluation of an On-farm Pollution Control System for Reducing Pesticide Pollution

Abstract

This article reports on the development and testing of an on-farm pollution control system using soil as a biological filter for trapping herbicide residues. A field site with four shallow surface ditches, underlain with four perforated drain pipes, was used to carry out field measurements. Polluted water with concentration levels of 100 mg/L of three commonly used herbicides, atrazine, metolachlor, and metribuzin, was applied to the ditches for 10 days continuously (actual daily application lasted for 4 h); and no water was applied for the following 10 days. This cycle was repeated three times. Water samples were collected both before application and after the water came out of the drains, in an observation chamber. Herbicide levels were reduced significantly (1%) in drainage waters in comparison to the 100 mg/L level in applied water. In most cases, they were found to be 10 mg/L or less. Also, the biodegradation of herbicide residues in the soil was found to occur between water applications. Thus, it appears that the system would be self-sustainable in the long term.