Field experiments were conducted on six loam and sandy loam soils to study the influence of various soil parameters on atrazine, cyanazine, alachlor, metolachlor, and pendimethalin efficacy. Herbicidal activity was highly correlated to the soil organic content. Humic matter content was equally or better correlated (r = 0.70 to 0.91) with herbicide bioactivity than was organic matter content (r = 0.66 to 0.84). Regression equations were determined which allow herbicide rate recommendations for 80% weed control to be calculated based on soil humic matter or organic matter levels.

Percent soil organic matter content, as determined by standard chromic acid oxidations, was highly (r = 0.89) correlated with soil humic matter content, as determined by NaOH/DTPA (diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid)/alcohol extraction of 201 U.S. soils. Humic matter content of the soils was equally or better correlated (r = 0.89 to 0.97) with herbicide bioactivity, as measured in field experiments, than was percent organic matter content (r = 0.87 to 0.92). Regression equations provided allow herbicide rate recommendations for 80% weed control to be calculated based on soil humic matter or soil organic matter levels.

The soil organic matter and/or humic matter fraction was highly correlated with the adsorption of ICIA-0051 herbicide onto five soils; clay content and other soil factors were less correlated. The Freundlich equation was used to describe the adsorption of ICIA-0051 by the various soils. Based on the K constants, the general order for adsorption for each soil was Hyde silty clay loam > Frederick silt loam > Davidson clay = Bojac sandy loam > Appling loamy sand. Across all soils, 25 to 50% of the amount adsorbed was removed by two desorptions. Appling, Bojac, and Davidson soils retained less herbicide after two desorptions than did Frederick and Hyde.