Publication Date:
1985-08-01
Description:
To determine the capacity of the Lethbridge soil to inactivate paraquat, applications equivalent to a maximum of 3000 kg/ha of paraquat were made in growth chamber and field experiments. In the growth chamber and field, more than 600 and 1000 kg/ha, respectively, of paraquat in one application were required to reduce wheat growth by 10%. Paraquat residue levels in the field soil did not decrease after the first summer. Paraquat residue was not found in wheat grain growing in soil with 1650 kg/ha of paraquat in the 0–15 cm layer, but it was detected in plant leaves. The paraquat associated with plant leaves could have resulted from contamination of the leaves by soil rather than from translocation from roots to leaves. The 500 kg/ha rate of paraquat reduced the cation exchange capacity by 5%; however, further paraquat additions did not cause additional reductions. Paraquat could likely be applied for several hundred years at currently recommended rates for weed control on chemical fallow and not exceed the ability of Canadian Prairie soils to inactivate it. Key words: Paraquat, persistence, availability, inactivation, wheat, soil
Print ISSN:
0008-4271
Electronic ISSN:
1918-1841
Topics:
Geosciences
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Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
