Atrazine degradation in a containerized rhizosphere system

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes, 2000-11, Vol.35 (6), p.677-687
• Main Authors: Costa, Ravi M., Camper, N. D., Riley, M. B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; atrazine; Atrazine - isolation & purification; Atrazine - metabolism; Atrazine - pharmacology; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; degradation rhizosphere; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Half-Life; Herbicide; Herbicides - isolation & purification; Herbicides - metabolism; Herbicides - pharmacology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Pollution; pot system; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil and water pollution; Soil science; Zea mays - drug effects; Zea mays - microbiology
• ISSN: 0360-1234; 1532-4109
• DOI: 10.1080/03601230009373301

The effect of atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) on rhizosphere microorganisms and its fate in a containerized rhizosphere system was studied. The rhizosphere system consisted of corn grown in pot containing a defined potting mix of sand and bark with atrazine. Sterilized potting mix and a container without plants served as controls. Atrazine was extracted and analyzed via HPLC. Fluorescent pseudomonad populations increased 100-fold in the rhizposphere during a 60-day incubation period as compared to the nonvegetated control. Atrazine degradation was higher in the rhizosphere system (half-life of 7 days) compared to the nonvegetated control (half-life of greater than 45 days). The major degradation product detected in the rhizosphere system was deisopropylatrazine; other products detected included deethylatrazine, deethylhydroxyatrazine, deisopropylatrazine and hydroxyatrazine. Hydroxyatrazine was detected in the nonvegetated and sterile controls. The containerized rhizosphere system provides an experimental system to study the fate of pesticidal chemicals as well as the effects on microbial populations.