Persistence of linuron herbicide in soils under soybean crop

Abstract

The persistence of linuron in the soil was investigated under field conditions in three types of soil during the years 1983/84, 1984/85 and 1985/86 on soybeans (Glycine max Merrill). Soil samples were taken periodically from the field experiments to determine herbicide activity. The bioassay methodology conducted under controlled conditions of a phytotron was utilized. The results indicated that linuron bioactivity, in doses equivalent to 1.75 kg/ha persists in the soil, at a depth of 0 cm to 10 cm, three weeks after its application in pre-emergence. For periods superior to four weeks, bioactivity disappeared. Lower doses of the product tend to persist for shorter periods.