Desorption and mobilization of three strobilurin fungicides in three types of soil

Phenamacril (JS399-19 with independent intellectual property developed by China), azoxystrobin, and kresoxim-methyl are strobilurin fungicide. Due to their broad spectrum and good control of most of known fungi, strobilurin fungicide has been widely used in agriculture management. Thus, it is important to evaluate their environmental behaviors particularly in soils and underground water. In this study, the sorption/desorption and mobility of strobilurin fungicides in three Chinese soils (Jiangxi red soil, Taihu paddy soil, and Northeast China black soil) were conducted using comprehensively analytic approaches including batch experiment and soil thin-layer chromatography. The strobilurin fungicides were hard to be adsorbed in Jiangxi red soil but had medium adsorption capability in Tanhu paddy soil and Northeast China black soil, while the desorption of three strobilurin fungicides ranked in the order of Jiangxi red soil > Taihu paddy soil > Northeast China black soil. Soil properties including soil organic matter (SOM), pH, and cationic exchange capacity (CEC) affected the adsorption/desorption of the fungicides. Azoxystrobin and kresoxim-methyl had weak mobility in the soils. JS399-19 was moderately mobile in Jiangxi red soil but was not easily moved in Taihu paddy soil and Northeast China black soil. Due to their weak mobility in soils, these strobilurin fungicides tended to remain in the soil phase but not to shift downward to underground water. As azoxystrobin and JS399-19 had a long retention period in soil, there may become persistent residues in the soil environment.