Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T23:19:22.905Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Methodology in Accelerated Biodegradation of Herbicides

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Ravva V. Subba-Rao
Affiliation:
Richmond Res. Cent., Stauffer Chem. Co., Richmond, CA 94804
Thomas H. Cromartie
Affiliation:
Richmond Res. Cent., Stauffer Chem. Co., Richmond, CA 94804
Reed A. Gray
Affiliation:
Stauffer Chem. Co., Mountain View. CA 94042

Abstract

Accelerated biodegradation of herbicides in soils can be demonstrated in the laboratory either by treating soil samples with a herbicide under conditions favorable for microbial growth or by sampling field soils soon after herbicidal treatment. Quantitative measurement of accelerated degradation of thiocarbamates in field soils is complicated by the difficulty both of obtaining a proper untreated soil and of obtaining a representative sample by proper mixing of treated soil. Both bacteria and fungi degrade thiocarbamate herbicides, and examples of either class of organisms can be isolated by suitable selection and enrichment conditions. The enzymes involved in the initial steps of thiocarbamate biodegradation seem labile and have not been characterized. Studies of accelerated biodegradation of pesticides should measure the disappearance of the parent or active herbicide using chemical analyses or bioassays. Measuring accelerated biodegradation by determining metabolites (including CO2) is complicated by potential formation of other products, by incorporation of radioactivity into soil microflora, and by complex kinetics partly due to co-metabolism of the herbicide. Additional index words: EPTC, butylate.

Type
Symposium
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Alexander, M. 1981. Biodegradation of chemicals of environmental concern. Science 211:132138.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2. Ashton, F. M., and Sheets, T. J. 1959. The relationship of soil adsorption of EPTC to oats injury in various soil types. Weeds 7:8890.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Danielson, L. L., Gentner, W. A., and Jansen, L. L. 1961. Persistence of soil-incorporated EPTC and other carbamates. Weed Sci. 9:463476.Google Scholar
4. Fang, S. C., Theisen, P., and Freed, V. H. 1961. Effects of water evaporation, temperature and rates of application on the retention of ethyl-N,N-di-n-propylthiolcarbamate in various soils. Weeds 9:569574.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Fournier, J. C., Codaccioni, P., and Soulas, G. 1981. Soil adaptation to 2,4-D degradation in relation to the application rates and the metabolic behavior of the degrading microflora. Chemosphere 10:977984.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Gray, R. A., and Joo, G. K. 1985. Reduction in weed control after repeat applications of thiocarbamate and other herbicides. Weed Sci. 33:698702.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Gray, R. A., and Weierich, A. J. 1965. Factors affecting the vapor loss of EPTC from soils. Weeds 13:141147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Gray, R. A., and Weierich, A. J. 1968. Behavior and persistence of thiocarbamate herbicides in soils under different environmental conditions. Proc. 9th Br. Weed Control Conf. p. 94101.Google Scholar
9. Horvath, R. S. 1972. Microbial co-metabolism and the degradation of organic compounds in nature. Bacteriol. Rev. 36:146155.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Kaufman, D. D., and Edwards, D. F. 1983. Pesticide/microbe interaction effects on persistence of pesticides in soil. Pages 177182 in Miyamoto, J. and Kearney, P. C., eds. Pesticide Chemistry: Human Welfare and the Environment. Pergamon Press, Oxford.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Lay, M. M., and Ilnicki, R. D. 1975. Effect of soil storage on propanil degradation. Weed Res. 15:6366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12. Lee, A. 1984. EPTC (S-ethyl N,N-dipropylthiocarbamate)-degrading microorganisms isolated from a soil previously exposed to EPTC. Soil Biol. Biochem. 16:529531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Obrigawitch, T., Martin, A. R., and Roeth, F. W. 1983. Degradation of thiocarbamate herbicides in soils exhibiting rapid EPTC breakdown. Weed Sci. 31:187192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Obrigawitch, T., Roeth, F. W., Martin, A. R., and Wilson, R. G. Jr. 1982. Addition of R-33865 to EPTC for extended herbicide activity. Weed Sci. 30:417422.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Obrigawitch, T., Wilson, R. G., Martin, A. R., and Roeth, F. W. 1982. The influence of temperature, moisture, and prior EPTC application on the degradation of EPTC in soils. Weed Sci. 30:175181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16. Rahman, A., Atkinson, G. C., Douglas, J. A., and Sinclair, D. P. 1979. Eradicane causes problems. N.Z.J. Agric. 139:4749.Google Scholar
17. Rahman, A., and James, T. K. 1983. Decreased activity of EPTC + R-25788 following repeated use in some New Zealand soils. Weed Sci. 31:783789.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18. Schmidt, E. L., and Belser, L. W. 1982. Nitrifying bacteria. Pages 10271042 in Page, A. L., Miller, R. H., and Keeney, D. R. (ed.). Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties – Agronomy Monograph No. 9, Am. Soc. Agron., Inc., Madison, WI.Google Scholar
19. Sethunathan, N., and Pathak, M. D. 1971. Development of a diazinon-degrading bacterium in paddy water after repeated applications of diazinon. Can. J. Microbiol. 17:699702.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20. Wilson, R. G. 1984. Accelerated degradation of thiocarbamate herbicides in soil with prior thiocarbamate herbicide exposure. Weed Sci. 32:264268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar