Soil dissipation and biological activity of metolachlor and S-metolachlor in five soils

The resolved isomer of metolachlor, S-metolachlor, was registered in 1997. New formulations based primarily on the S-metolachlor isomer are more active on a gram for gram metolachlor basis than formulations based on a racemic mixture of metolachlor containing a 50:50 ratio of the R and S isomers. The labelled use rates of S-metolachlor-based products were reduced by 35% to give equivalent weed control to metolachlor. However, several companies have recently registered new metolachlor formulations with the same recommended use rates for weed control as S-metolachlor. This research was done to compare the soil behaviour and the biological activity of metolachlor and S-metolachlor in different soils under greenhouse and field conditions. Although K(d) ranged from 1.6 to 6.9 across the five soils, there were no differences in the binding of metolachlor and S-metolachlor to soil or in the rate of soil solution dissipation in a given soil. However, both greenhouse and field studies showed that S-metolachlor was 1.4-3-fold more active than metolachlor against Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. in five different soils and that S-metolachlor was more active than metolachlor in three Colorado field locations. When the rates of metolachlor and S-metolachlor were adjusted for S isomer concentrations in the formulations, there were no differences between the formulations in field, greenhouse or bioassay studies. Thus herbicidal activity is due to the S isomers, with the R isomers being largely inactive.