Effect of organic amendments on degradation of atrazine

Pesticide contamination of soil and ground water at or near the agricultural fields is a major problem world wide. The ability of several amendments like rice straw, manure, saw dust and charcoal were used to stimulate the degradation of atrazine in soil. Field soil fortified with pesticide at two concentration levels were amended separately with rice straw, farm yard manure, saw dust and charcoal at rates of 2.5% (w/w) and maintained at field capacity moisture regime and kept at ambient temperature 25 +/- 5 degrees C. The results indicate 89.5% degradation of atrazine in farm yard manure during 60-day period followed by rice straw, saw dust charcoal and recording 87.2% and 83.8%, 67.7%, respectively, as compared to unamended treatment where 63.3% degradation was observed. The FYM was found to be most effective in soil and enhances the degradation as compared to the other amendments. Although addition of organic manures has been an integral part of sustainable agriculture practices; the present findings give a new dimension of it's utilization for removal of persistent pesticides.