Factors Affecting the Vapor Loss of EPTC from Soils

Abstract

The disappearance of EPTC (ethyl N,N-di-n-propylthiolcarbamate) from soils was studied by steam distilling the remaining EPTC from the soil samples and analyzing the distillates. The most important factor affecting the loss of EPTC from soil was the amount of moisture in the soil. During the first 15 minutes after spraying on the soil surface, 20% of the applied EPTC disappeared from dry soil, 27% from moist soil and 44% from wet soil. The loss was 23, 49, and 69% after one day and 44, 68, and 90% after six days on dry, moist, and wet soils, respectively. No significant loss of EPTC occurred the first few hours after applying granular EPTC to dry soil or soil containing 4 to 6% moisture, but on soil at 15% moisture the loss from granules was 60% in two hours. There appeared to be a critical moisture level for each soil, above which large losses of EPTC occurred after application to the surface or after shallow incorporation. Depth of incorporation was the second most important factor in EPTC loss from soils. Incorporation to at least 2 to 3 inches was necessary to prevent large losses of EPTC when light rain or sprinkler irrigation followed treatment. EPTC was lost at a faster rate on sunny days than cloudy days. Increasing the temperature from 32 to 60 F, increased the rate of EPTC vaporization from moist soil but had no effect on the loss from dry soil.