HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wu, T. L. Articles by Remenapp, H. E. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wu, T. L. Articles by Remenapp, H. E. H. Agricola Articles by Wu, T. L. Articles by Remenapp, H. E. H.

Herbicide Runoff From Experimental Watersheds¹

ABSTRACT

Two commonly used herbicides in corn fields of the Rhode River Watershed were atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-iso-propylamino-1,3,5-triazine) and alachlor (2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N-methoxymethyl acetanilide). Although alachlor was applied in larger quantities, atrazine was detected more frequently in runoff waters and had greater concentrations than alachlor (0–40 µg/L vs. 0–6 µg/L). Atrazine was more persistent and more mobile in watershed soils. Linear regression analysis of herbicide loading rates and percentage agricultural land-use did not give a direct relationship. Runoff waters from forest watersheds where herbicides were not directly applied, were contaminated with herbicides. During the 3-y study period (1976–1978), a maximum of 10 µg/L of atrazine, and up to 0.5 µg/L alachlor were discharged in winter runoff waters from the eight experimental watersheds. In addition to quantity of herbicides directly applied to land surface, residual levels in runoff waters must be influenced by other important factors such as topography, location of croplands in relationship to drainage channel, etc. A major portion of atrazine was found in dissolved aqueous form in runoff-water samples collected during storm events. Percolation in subsurface flow and dissolution in overland flow were believed to be important transport mechanisms.

Key Words: atrazine • alachlor • stream discharge

¹ Contribution from Chesapeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 28, Edgewater, MD 21037.

² Research Chemist, Assoc. Dir. for Sci., and Research Assistant, respectively. Present address of senior author: Georgia Institute of Technol., Chem. & Environ. Sci. Branch, EES/EMSL, Atlanta, GA 30332.

Received for publication February 23, 1982.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X. Louchart, M. Voltz, P. Andrieux, and R. Moussa Herbicide Transport to Surface Waters at Field and Watershed Scales in a Mediterranean Vineyard Area J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2001; 30(3): 982 - 991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]