Experiments were performed in pursuit of understanding of interactions between herbicides and soils, focusing on the effects of heterogeneity within soil organic matter (SOM), and the aggregation of SOM with mineral matter in soils, on equilibrium sorption and sorption rates of herbicides. For this purpose, sorption of three herbicides -- atrazine, metolachlor and napropamide -- was studied on a bulk soil, a bulk peat and three fractions that were chemically isolated from it. Studies were also performed using the well studied polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) phenanthrene to provide a comparison for the herbicides. The sorbents extracted from the soil and peat -- Base extracted fraction (BE), humic acids fraction (HA) and kerogen and black carbon fraction (KB) were characterized with elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy and surface area measurements and subjected to sorption and desorption equilibrium studies and sorption rate investigations. The herbicides were found to exhibit non linear sorption isotherms on all the sorbents, with HA from both soil and peat showing the least non linear isotherms and fastest sorption rates among all the sorbents. HA fraction also showed the least dependence of equilibrium or time dependent organic carbon normalized sorption capacity (KOC or KOC(t)) on initial aqueous solute concentration. This result was in accordance with the amorphous nature of the HA material and similar to that observed for PAHs. Herbicide atrazine was found to react with HA and was transformed to hydroxyatrazine in its presence. KOC or KOC(t) values for all other sorbents were found to be dependent on initial aqueous solute concentration. High sorption capacity of KB dominated the sorption for all the herbicides, with this capacity being diminished by the aggregation structure of the soil. Significant sorption hysteresis was not observed for the sorption of herbicides on the KB fraction, unlike that observed for phenanthrene, indicating large herbicide molecules do not penetrate nanopores of KB. Hysteresis observed for the bulk soil and BE for atrazine was attributed to chemical interactions between the sorbents and the herbicide. Overall this dissertation found that the herbicides exhibit hydrophobic interactions with soils, similar to PAHs, but owing to their large molecular sizes and polarities may exhibit site specific interactions and lack of hysteresis with soil components that call for changes in existing fate and transport models and further microscopic understanding.

This book addresses the interactions of soil minerals with organics and microbes and their impacts on the dynamics, transformations, and toxicity of metals, metalloids, other inorganics, and xenobiotics that affect land quality and ecosystem health. It is the result of the work group on "interactions of soil minerals with organic components and microorganisms" in the International Society of Soil Science.

Reports the current thinking on the role that adsorption may play in the rate and extent of an organic compound's degradation in the soil. Among the topics of the 14 papers are diazinon degradation and dissipation in the root zone, the reductive dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene in wetland soils, and the utility of sorption and degradation parameters from the literature for site-specific pesticide impact assessments. Proceedings from an October 1991 symposium in Denver. No index. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book addresses the interactions of soil minerals with organics and microbes and their impacts on the dynamics, transformations, and toxicity of metals, metalloids, other inorganics, and xenobiotics that affect land quality and ecosystem health. It is the result of the work group on "interactions of soil minerals with organic components and microorganisms" in the International Society of Soil Science.

Over the past 50 years, triazines have made a great impact on agriculture and world hunger by assisting in the development of new farming methods, providing greater farming and land use capabilities, and increasing crop yields. Triazines are registered in over 80 countries and save billions of dollars a year. The Triazine Herbicides is the one book that presents a comprehensive view of the total science and agriculture of these chemicals. With emphasis on how the chemicals are studied and developed, reviewed, and used at the agricultural level this book provides valuable insight into the benefits of triazine herbicides for sustainable agriculture. - Presents previously unpublished information on the discovery, development and marketing of herbicides - Includes a vital section on the origin, use, economics and fate of triazine herbicides - Covers benefits of triazines in corn and sorghum, sugarcane, citrus, fruit and nut crops - Establishes best management practice and environmental benefits of use in conservation tillage