Sorption and mobility of 14C-bentazon were evaluated using soil solution and soil-thin-layer chromatography, respectively on three Coastal Plain soils. The proportion of bentazon adsorbed, was pH and concentration dependent and ranged between 28 to 47, 31 to 61, and 17 to 68% for the Dothan loamy sand, Greenville clay, and Troup loamy sand, respectively. Bentazon sorption decreased as soil pH increased from 5.4 to 5.8 on the Troup loamy sand, regardless of bentazon concentration. Sorption of 1 and 10 ppm bentazon decreased as soil pH increased from 5.0 to 5.7 on the Greenville clay and 6.1 to 6.4 on the Dothan loamy sand. Bentazon was least mobile on the Greenville clay and mobility increased as pH increased. Mobility of bentazon was greatest on the Troup loamy sand and was not pH dependent. Bentazon mobility decreased as soil pH increased for the Dothan loamy sand.

The ARS Pesticide Properties Database (PPD) is a compendium of chemical and physical properties of a collection of widely used pesticides. At present, there are 92 compounds in the database and we have focused on 19 of the most important properties impacting on groundwater and atmospheric quality. The PPD relies upon experimentally determined data points. With the help of the National Agricultural Chemicals Association (NACA) we have been communicating directly with manufacturers to obtain the original experimental data with which they characterize pesticide properties and fulfill requirements for federal and state regulations. This provides the basis for the PPD which is augmented with data from the scientific literature. Features of the PPD are: 1. 19 parameters are provided for each pesticide. 2. References are given for all data. 3. When there are several values for a given property, all are cited. 4. All data have been verified and provide the latest, most reliable figures available.

Imazaquin {2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid} sorption and mobility were studied in five Alabama soils ranging from sandy loam to clay. Techniques included thinlayer soil chromatography, batch equilibrium, and soil solution recovery. Imazaquin was mobile in all soils with Rf values of 0.8 to 0.9. Sorption based on batch equilibrium was minimal with Kd values ranging from 0.001 to 0.21. The soil solution recovery technique was used to evaluate imazaquin sorption in each soil as influenced by imazaquin concentration, wetting and drying, and pH. As herbicide concentration added to the soils was increased from 0.1 to 10 mg/kg, the amount of 14C-imazaquin in soil solution increased. Temporarily drying each soil to 25 or 50% of field capacity resulted in maximum sorption of imazaquin. Lowering the pH enhanced sorption in all soils such that the amount of imazaquin in solution ranged from 38 (low pH) to 100% (high pH). Soil sorption appeared to be governed by the pH-dependent charge surfaces from aluminum and iron oxyhydroxides (specifically hematite and gibbsite) and kaolinite.

Selective placement studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the relative importance of root vs. foliar absorption of postemergence-applied CGA-362622 by torpedograss. All application methods were equally effective in reducing torpedograss foliage as measured 4 wk after treatment. However, foliar + soil and soil-only were more effective than foliar-only in suppressing regrowth at 10 wk after treatment. Foliar absorption by torpedograss and subsequent translocation was determined with radiotracer techniques. After 72 h, 29% of the applied CGA-362622 had been absorbed, and 2 and 7% of the amount applied had accumulated in developing rhizomes and roots, respectively. CGA-362622 was more readily absorbed and translocated by the root. Hydroponically grown plants were transferred to a hydroponic solution spiked with CGA-362622 at 200 ppb. After 6 h, whole plant concentration was 113.1 ng/plant. Only 56% of amount absorbed remained in the roots, the remainder having been translocated to other tissues. The youngest leaf and the immature rhizomes accumulated 2 and 15%, respectively. CGA-362622 soil adsorption was slightly influenced by CGA-362622 concentration and greatly influenced by soil pH. Average percent recovered in the soil solution (i.e., not absorbed) was 15.3 and 27.4% at pH 5.7 and 6.7, respectively. Soil mobility was also pH dependent. Soil solution and soil mobility data support the observation that soil application followed by root entry is more effective in delivering phytotoxic concentrations to the regenerative tissues of torpedograss than foliar application.

Selective placement studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the relative importance of root vs. foliar absorption of postemergence-applied quinclorac by torpedograss. Foliar + soil and soil-only applications were more effective than foliar-only in reducing torpedograss foliage at 4 wk after treatment (WAT). However, foliar-only and foliar + soil were more effective than soil-only in suppressing regrowth at 10 WAT. Quinclorac foliar absorption by torpedograss and subsequent translocation, as determined with radiotracer techniques, was minimal. After 72 h, only 26% of the applied quinclorac had been absorbed, and 13.7% of the amount applied remained within the treated leaf. Only 0.3% of applied was recovered in the roots, and none was detected in the developing rhizomes. Quinclorac was readily root absorbed and translocated. After 6 h, a 26.7 μg/plant dose of quinclorac had been absorbed, and 54% of this quantity remained in the roots; the remaining 46% having been translocated throughout the plant. The youngest leaf and the immature rhizomes accumulated 5 and 9% of the amount absorbed, respectively. Quinclorac was not readily soil sorbed as determined by soil solution experiments. Quinclorac was displaced nearly concomitant with the wetting front in soil chromatography. Soil solution concentration and soil mobility were greater at pH 6.7 than at 5.7. Results establish that consistent control of torpedograss with quinclorac is dependent on soil entry and root absorption. Unfortunately, the propensity of quinclorac to be water displaced could negatively affect this control.

Postemergence-applied diuron effectively controls yellow woodsorrel in nursery crops grown in pine bark–based container substrate. Whether the phytotoxicity of diuron on yellow woodsorrel is exclusively the result of foliar activity or is partially the result of root-based activity has not been determined. Application in which diuron was allowed to contact both the foliage and the pine bark–based substrate provided 84% control as determined by shoot fresh-weight reduction relative to that of a nontreated control. Foliar-only and root-only applications provided 52 and 12% shoot fresh-weight reduction, respectively. Absorption and translocation of foliar-applied diuron by yellow woodsorrel was evaluated using radiotracer techniques. After 24 h, 86% of the applied diuron had been absorbed, and 76% of the amount applied remained in the treated leaflet, indicating minimal translocation. Diuron sorption by the pine bark–based substrate was evaluated using radiotracer techniques. After 3 h, less than 6% of applied diuron remained in the aqueous phase, indicating 94% sorption. Exposing yellow woodsorrel roots to diuron concentrations as low as 0.50 mg/L resulted in injury, and concentrations equal to or greater than 10 mg/L resulted in death. Calculations described herein indicate the concentration that probably would occur within the aqueous solution held within the substrate following a 1.12-kg ai/ha application is sufficient to be phytotoxic to yellow woodsorrel. Thus, root-based absorption is a contributing factor in the overall efficacy of postemergence-applied diuron in controlling yellow woodsorrel.