Influence of Soil Moisture on Long-Term Sorption of Diuron and Isoproturon by Soil

Long-term sorption of diuron and isoproturon by a clay loam soil was investigated for nine weeks at two herbicide doses (0·6 or 3 mg kg−1) and two soil moisture contents (35 or 62% w/w, i.e. 3·16 or 1 kPa) by measuring changes in herbicide concentrations in the soil solution sampled by means of glass microfibre filters in presence of sodium azide (200 mg litre−1) which inhibited biodegradation for more than four weeks. After the first day equilibration period, where adsorption mainly occurred (>70% adsorbed), herbicide concentrations in the soil solution decreased (about 50% for diuron; up to 38% for isoproturon) for two weeks but equilibration required about one month. Small amounts of herbicides were sorbed during this process (<10% of the initial (24-h) adsorption). These were similar for both herbicides, although diuron was initially more adsorbed. Values of the partition coefficients of herbicides between soil and soil solution were increased (75–125% for diuron; 29–67% for isoproturon). High soil moisture enhanced sorption speed for both herbicides and increased final sorption only for diuron. Sodium azide inhibited long-term sorption of the more stable diuron and this effect was reversed by low temperature only at the low soil moisture. Sodium azide action might be complex (competition, effect on soil micro-organisms) and was not elucidated.