Flumetsulam mobility in two Mississippi soils as influenced by irrigation timing

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate14C-flumetsulam mobility in two Mississippi soils of varied texture and organic matter content following delays in irrigation. Mobility was evaluated using packed soil columns, 25 cm deep, under unsaturated–saturated flow conditions. Irrigation timings included 0, 3, and 5 d after flumetsulam application. Flumetsulam mobility (defined as the amount collected in leachate) decreased from 45% to no more than 20% of the applied in the Prentiss sandy loam soil when irrigation was delayed 3 or 5 d. With the Okolona soil, flumetsulam recovery in the leachate was 21, 14, and 6%, respectively when irrigation occurred 0, 3, and 5 d after application. Flumetsulam proved to be mobile when irrigation immediately followed application, with 6 to 45% recovered in the leachate from all soils evaluated. The Prentiss soil retained 6% of the applied flumetsulam in the upper 5 cm and the Okolona soil retained 22% when irrigation immediately followed flumetsulam application. When the irrigation interval was delayed at least 3 d, the Okolona soil retained 40% in the upper 5 cm, whereas the Prentiss soil retained 10%. Flumetsulam mobility was dependent on irrigation timing and soil type.