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 Adams, C. D. Articles by Thurman, E. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Adams, C. D. Articles by Thurman, E. M. Agricola Articles by Adams, C. D. Articles by Thurman, E. M.

Formation and Transport of Deethylatrazine in the Soil and Vadose Zone

Dep. of Civil Engineering-Environmental Health Engineering, Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045;

E. M. Thurman

U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrence, KS 66049.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) and two degradation products were monitored at seven depths in the soil and vadose zone throughout the growing season in two experimental plots in which corn (Zea mays L.) was grown. The soils in these plots were a Kimo silty clay loam (clayey over loamy, montmorillonitic, mesic, Fluvaquentic Hapludoll) and a Eudora silt loam (course, silty, mixed, mesic, Fluventic Hapludoll). The purpose this field study was to identify and quantify the mobile and persistent degradation products of atrazine that comprise the input, or "source term," to groundwater resulting from the application of atrazine to the soils. The formation of deethylatrazine (2-amino-4-chloro-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) and deisopropylatrazine (2-amino-4-chloro-6-ethylamino-s-triazine) was monitored at vurious depths using suction lysimeters to determine the relative proportions at which these compounds enter the aquifer. Deethylatrazine was the major degradation product of atrazine identified in the soil water and appeared to enter the underlying aquifer at a concentration of 5.0 µg/L, which was greater than the concentration of atrazine entering the aquifer. Deisopropylatrazine also was detected in the soil water, bnt only in minor concentrations relative to atrazine and deethylatrazine. Because deethylatrazine was the major degradation product in the unsaturated zone, the deethylatrazine-to-atrazine ratio (DAR) may be a good indicator of transport of atrazine through the soil. The hypothesis is proposed that the DAR may be used to distinguish point-source from nonpoint-source contamination of an aquifer.

Research was conducted at the Kansas River Valley Experimental Field, Silver Lake, near Topeka, KS, and at the U.S. Geological Survey, 4821 Quail Crest Place, Lawrence, KS 66049.

Received for publication July 16, 1990.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. L. McConnell, J. A. Harman-Fetcho, and J. D. Hagy III Measured Concentrations of Herbicides and Model Predictions of Atrazine Fate in the Patuxent River Estuary J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2004; 33(2): 594 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Kalkhoff, K. E. Lee, S. D. Porter, P. J. Terrio, and E. M. Thurman Herbicides and Herbicide Degradation Products in Upper Midwest Agricultural Streams during August Base-Flow Conditions J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2003; 32(3): 1025 - 1035. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Guzzella, S. Rullo, F. Pozzoni, and G. Giuliano Studies on Mobility and Degradation Pathways of Terbuthylazine Using Lysimeters on a Field Scale J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2003; 32(3): 1089 - 1098. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. Spalding, D. G. Watts, D. D. Snow, D. A. Cassada, M. E. Exner, and J. S. Schepers Herbicide Loading to Shallow Ground Water beneath Nebraska's Management Systems Evaluation Area J. Environ. Qual., January 1, 2003; 32(1): 84 - 91. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Munier-Lamy, M.P. Feuvrier, and T. Chone Degradation of 14C-Atrazine Bound Residues in Brown Soil and Rendzina Fractions J. Environ. Qual., January 1, 2002; 31(1): 241 - 247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.D. Gaynor, C.S. Tan, C.F. Drury, T.W. Welacky, H.Y.F. Ng, and W.D. Reynolds Runoff and Drainage Losses of Atrazine, Metribuzin, and Metolachlor in Three Water Management Systems J. Environ. Qual., January 1, 2002; 31(1): 300 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. T. Meyer, E. M. Thurman, and D. A. Goolsby Differentiating Nonpoint Sources of Deisopropylatrazine in Surface Water Using Discrimination Diagrams J. Environ. Qual., September 1, 2001; 30(5): 1836 - 1843. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]