Persistence behavior of metamifop and its metabolite in rice ecosystem

A field experiment was conducted to determine the persistence of metamifop in transplanted rice crop for two seasons. Metamifop 10% EC was applied at two doses: 100 g a.i. ha^-1 and 200 g a.i. ha^-1 at 2-3 leaf stage of Echinochloa crusgalli. The residues of metamifop along with its major metabolite, N-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-hydroxy-N-methylpropionamide (HFMPA), were estimated in rice plant, field water and soil using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Limit of detection and limit of quantification of the method for both the compounds were set at 0.003 μg g^-1 and 0.010 μg g^-1 respectively. Metamifop showed less persistence in field water and rice plant as compared to soil samples. Presence of HFMPA was recorded in rice plant and soil. Both the compounds were found below level of quantification in harvest samples of straw, grains, husk and soil. A safe waiting period of 52 d was suggested for harvesting of rice when metamifop was applied at 100 g a.i. ha^-1 (recommended dose).