Sorption/desorption and bioavailability of herbicides as affected by residue aging and soil spatial variability

• Grant number: 01/10198-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: February 18, 2003
• End date: July 17, 2003
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Jussara Borges Regitano
• Grantee: Jussara Borges Regitano
• Host Investigator: William C. Koskinen
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Soil and Water Management Research, United States

Abstract

Pesticides enter surface and ground waters through runoff from agricultural land and/or leaching through surface and subsurface soils. This project will address surface and subsurface features in glacial and tropical soils that control basic processes of sorption/desorption and bioavailability of herbicides in soils. Bioavailability is defined as the quantity of a chemical in soil or other environment that is actually accessible to an organism. Understanding the spatial variability of soil properties and processes affecting herbicides will facilitate the development of management practices that will reduce the use of herbicides needed for effective weed control and that will reduce their potential transport from point of application to surface and ground water. (AU)