Assessing biochar's ability to reduce bioavailability of aminocyclopyrachlor in soils

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 189; pp. 92 - 97
• Main Authors: RITTENHOUSE, Jennifer L, RICE, Pamela J, SPOKAS, Kurt A, KOSKINEN, William C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01-06-2014
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Charcoal - chemistry; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herbicides - chemistry; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Pyrimidines - chemistry; Soil - chemistry; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil and water pollution; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil science; Minnesota; United States; North America; America; Performance evaluation; Agricultural chemical product; Combustion residue; Auxin; Aminocyclopyrachlor; Pollution prevention; Pesticides; Inorganic adsorbent; Bioavailability; Soil pollution; Biochar; Herbicide; Chemical pollution; Amendment; Activated carbon; Pyrimidine derivatives; Plant growth substance; Comparative study; Organic compounds; Charcoal
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.02.022

Aminocyclopyrachlor is a pyrimidine carboxylic acid herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds and brush. Amending soil with activated charcoal is recommended to prevent off-site transport of aminocyclopyrachlor and non-target plant damage. We used the batch-equilibrium method to determine the concentration of aminocyclopyrachlor in a pseudo-steady state with biochar, soil, and biochar-soil systems (<10% biochar by weight). We observed that aminocyclopyrachlor is mobile in soils. Soil incorporation of activated charcoal removed nearly all of the aqueous aminocyclopyrachlor thereby limiting its bioavailability to non-target flora. On the other hand, biochars were less effective than activated charcoal. Biochar produced from olive mill waste feedstock was the most effective biochar that we assessed for reducing the aqueous herbicide concentration. Although these biochars reduced the aminocyclopyrachlor concentration, they would not be practical remediation media due to the extraordinarily high application rates required to reduce the concentration by 50% (2.13 × 10(5) kg ha(-1)-7.27 × 10(5) kg ha(-1)).