Mineralization of atrazine in agricultural soil: inhibition by nitrogen

Microbial mineralization of atrazine was characterized in soils and liquid media in the presence of nitrogen fertilizer concentrations representing typical field applications. The mineralization of atrazine in soils varied between 6 and 99% after 18 d of incubation. Half-lives of between 0.99 and more than 18 d were obtained. Mineralization kinetics and degree are related by a reciprocal trend to concentrations of available nitrogen in the soil. In liquid media, half-lives were calculated as 0.12 d in the absence of fertilizer nitrogen and as 79 d in the presence of 1,000 mg/L of KNO3-N. Only 20% of atrazine was mineralized after 18 d of incubation in the presence of this concentration of KNO3-N, whereas greater than 90% mineralization occurred after 2 d of incubation in liquid medium without KNO3-N. The results demonstrate that the mineralization of atrazine is inhibited even at fertilizer nitrogen levels lower than typical field applications. Inhibition in soil is lower than that in liquid medium, possibly because of the higher complexity of the soil system. This may explain why atrazine that infiltrates to the groundwater is persistent. The microbial consortium of the soils was characterized, and seven species were identified. The degrading capacity of these species suggests that only three species are involved in the degradation of atrazine.