Methiozolin sorption and mobility in sand-based root zones.

Area of Science:

• Agronomy
• Environmental Chemistry
• Soil Science

Background:

• Methiozolin is a herbicide used for annual bluegrass control on golf courses.
• Understanding its soil sorption and mobility is crucial for efficacy and environmental safety.
• Research focused on sand-based golf green root zones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the soil sorption and desorption of methiozolin.
• To evaluate the soil mobility of methiozolin in various root zone media.
• To determine the factors influencing methiozolin's behavior in golf course soils.

Main Methods:

• Batch equilibrium experiments were used to determine sorption coefficients (Kd).
• Thin-layer chromatography was employed to assess methiozolin mobility (Rf values).
• Experiments were conducted across nine different root zone types.

Main Results:

• Sorption coefficients (Kd) ranged from 0.4 to 29.4 mL g(-1), averaging 13.8 mL g(-1).
• Soil organic matter content significantly influenced sorption; pH had minimal effect.
• Methiozolin exhibited low mobility (Rf <0.05) in most media, with higher mobility in low organic matter sand.

Conclusions:

• Limited methiozolin mobility suggests resistance to leaching displacement.
• Approximately 24% of applied methiozolin is available for root uptake.
• Findings support the effective use of methiozolin for targeted weed control in golf greens.