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Herbicide loss following application to a roadside
Carmel T Ramwell1, Andrew I J Heather, Anthony J Shepherd
1Cranfield Centre for EcoChemistry, Cranfield University, Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Derby DE72 2GN, UK. c.ramwell@cranfield.ac.uk
Pest Management Science
|July 31, 2002
Summary
Roadside herbicide runoff was quantified, revealing significant losses within the first 10 mm of rain. Herbicide properties like solubility and Koc influenced peak concentrations and overall environmental loss.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Urban Ecology
- Herbicide Fate and Transport
Background:
- Limited understanding of herbicide behavior in urban roadside environments hinders accurate risk assessments.
- Roadside vegetation management often involves herbicide application, leading to potential environmental contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the percentage loss of six common herbicides applied to a roadside environment.
- To investigate the factors influencing herbicide runoff and concentration in urban settings.
Main Methods:
- Herbicides were applied twice to a 16-m roadside section.
- Automatic water samplers collected runoff after rainfall events (up to 25 mm).
- Concentrations of glyphosate, atrazine, diuron, oxadiazon, oryzalin, and isoxaben were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Peak concentrations varied significantly among herbicides, with atrazine and diuron reaching over 1800 µg/L.
- Most herbicide loss occurred within the first 10 mm of rainfall.
- Percentage loss ranged from less than 10% to 73%, depending on the compound.
Conclusions:
- Herbicide solubility and Koc are key factors determining peak runoff concentrations.
- Application rates may influence loss for less soluble herbicides.
- Significant herbicide loss from roadsides underscores the need for careful environmental risk assessment.