Degradation of Dicamba in Prairie Soils

Summary. Electron‐capture gas chromatography was used to detect dicamba residues in three prairie soils, and the breakdown under different moisture conditions was studied. At rates equivalent to 1·1 kg/ha degradation was rapid in all soils at 25°C and at moisture levels in excess of the wilting point, with over 50% of the applied dicamba being dissipated in 2 weeks. Negligible breakdown occurred in the sterile soils, over a 4–week period, indicating that microbial decomposition could be an important factor contributing to dicamba degradation. The persistence of dicamba was investigated under field conditions at three locations using small plots. Applications equivalent to 1·1 kg/ha were made in October 1971 for analysis in May 1972, and in May 1972 for analysis in August 1972. At both sampling dates no dicamha residues were detected in any of the treatments at the 0–5, 5–10 or 10–15 cm soil levels. Degradation du dicamba dans les sots de prairies