Influence of application methods on the degradation of permethrin in laboratory, soil aerobic metabolism studies

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of application rate, volume, solvent and soil moisture content on the kinetics of mineralization and degradation, of [14C] permethrin have been studied in a sandy loam soil under standard laboratory conditions. During the incubation period, up to 32 days, the temperature and moisture level of the soil were controlled. Apart from the effects of application rate, which have been widely reported, application volume had the most significant effect on mineralization rate and T1/2. [14C]Permethrin, at a level of a 1 mg kg−1 in the soil, applied in 100 μl of methanol, resulted in the evolution of 14% of the applied radiochemical as [14C] carbon dioxide over 30 days. The same level applied in 1000 μl mineralized at a faster rate, with 30% [14C]carbon dioxide evolved over 30 days.The test chemical applied to soil in methanol mineralized at a significantly faster rate than a similar concentration applied in ethanol. There was no significant difference when comparing applications made using acetonitrile with those using methanol or ethanol. The addition of formulation ingredients resulted in little or no variation in mineralisation rate compared to an equivalent application volume of methanol/water.