Relative airborne losses of commercial 2,4-D formulations from a simulated wheat field

Abstract

The relative airborne losses of seven commercial 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) formulations were evaluated in a simulated wheat field. The formulations tested were butyl ester, isooctyl ester, two propylene glycol butyl ether esters, ethanol/isopropyl amine, and two dimethyl amines. The butyl and isooctyl esters exhibited the greatest airborne losses, followed by the propylene glycol butyl ether esters. The amines were nearly nonvolatile. Two to 4 days after application, the 2,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenoxyacetic acid metabolite of 2,4-D predominated in all air samples. This material as well as the 2,4-D acid predominated in all plant samples with only traces of the parent esters observed. No extractable 2,4-D related residues were detected in the soil.