Differences in Herbicide Adsorption on Soil Using Several Soil PH Modification Techniques

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1988

Abstract

Effects of soil pH on weak acid and weak base herbicide adsorption by soil are often determined by modifying soil pH in the laboratory. Modification of soil pH with acidic or basic amendments such as HCl or NaOH can cause changes in the soil‐solution system that may affect pesticide adsorption. The partition coefficients (Kd) for atrazine and dicamba by Waukegan, Piano, and Walla Walla silt loam soils stabilized in the field at different pH levels were compared to the Kd obtained when the soil pH was adjusted with acidic or basic amendments before herbicide addition. NaOH addition to raise soil pH generally increased the soluble soil organic carbon (SSOC) concentration in solution compared to field soils at the same pH and to soil treated with Ca(OH)2. NaOH decreased the soil solution ionic strength slightly. Acidifying soils increased the soil solution ionic strength, when compared to field soils at the same pH and had no effect on SSOC concentration. Dicamba adsorption to soil was minimal (Kd < 0.22) and not influenced by soil pH in the range of 4.1 to 6.0; adsorption by laboratory amended soils in some cases underestimated adsorption compared to nonamended soils. Atrazine adsorption increased with decreased pH in all soils, and was overestimated slightly by several laboratory treatments to reduce pH compared to adsorption by field soils. Treatments to raise the pH did not affect atrazine adsorption. Overall, herbicide adsorption differences due to pH modification were small (< 30%), and were not affected by soil solution ionic strength, saturating cation, or SSOC concentration in solution.

Publication Title

Journal of Environmental Science & Health Part B

Volume

23

Issue

6

First Page

559

Last Page

573

DOI of Published Version

10.1080/03601238809372626

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