| Abstract: | The degradation of prochloraz in different soils was investigated in field and laboratory experiments. In laboratory degradation experiments in the dark, initial prochloraz concentrations decreased to 30–64% within 56 days, depending on temperature and soil pH. In neutral to basic soils, formation of up to 3.7% of the metabolite prochloraz-urea was observed. The rate of mineralization was strongly pH-dependent, not exceeding 3.2% in the acidic and 18.3% in the neutral to basic soils. Amounts of non-extractable residues ranged from 14 to 31%. Under field conditions, prochloraz disappeared much more rapidly with DT50 values of 11–43 days. The metabolites prochloraz-formylurea and prochloraz-urea were found in significant concentrations. Laboratory experiments with fresh and sterilized soils under UV irradiation confirmed the enhancing effect of light on the formation of the primary metabolite, prochloraz-formylurea. The latter is hydrolysed to prochloraz-urea predominantly by microbial degradation. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry |
