Movement, Adsorption and Degradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid in Soil

Abstract

WITH the widespread use of pesticides in modern society, a greater understanding of their subsequent behaviour in the environment is rapidly becoming essential. One of the potential problems begins with the deposition of pesticidal chemicals at or near the surface of the soil. Movement of these chemicals can occur either by water run-off or with percolation through the soil. Within the soil itself movement is a result of the combined action of diffusion and mass flow, complicated by adsorption, precipitation, other soil interactions and degradation by microbial and chemical processes. Movement can take place in both the liquid and gaseous phases, the importance of the latter depending on the vapour pressure of the chemical.