Work

Impact of NPK, Plant Residue, Soil Type, and Temperature on the Half-Life of Atrazine Herbicide

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of NPK fertilization, soil type (silty clay and sandy loam) with no history of pesticides application, temperature (28 and 40C°) and maize residue on half-life reduction of atrazine herbicide. The NPK fertilizer was applied at 375 mg N, 187.5 mg P and 187.5 mg K per 600 g soil, while Maize straw was added at rates 12 g/ 600g soil. Atrazine was applied in four concentrations; 0.0678, 1.69, 3.39 or 5.08 mg g-1 soil. The residual atrazine concentration was measured using gas chromatography over a 150-day period. The results showed that degradation of atrazine was highest in Algeraif soil incubated at 40°C (87%), followed by Algeraif soil incubated at 28°C (68%), and Gerif soil at 28°C (54.2%).". Addition of NPK and maize straw significantly enhanced atrazine degradation, with degradation reaching 97% at an at atrazine concentration of 0.0678 mg g-1 soil after 150 days. The lowest half-lives compared to control were 125, 39, 25,19 and 14 days with the application of Gerif soil (28 C°), Algeraif soil (28 C°), Algeraif soil (40 C°), NPK and maize straw respectively at atrazine concentration of 5.08 mg g-1 soil. In conclusion, the addition of NPK fertilizer and maize straw significantly improved the degradation of atrazine, reducing both its concentration and half-life in soil.

Source: Nitrogen

DOI: 10.3390/nitrogen6030079