Leaching and Persistence of Sulfentrazone when Mixed with Adjuvants

ABSTRACT: The objective of this work was to study the influence of adjuvants on leaching and persistence of sulfentrazone in a Red-Yellow Ultisol. The soil was stored in PVC columns of 10 cm diameter and 50 cm length. The treatments were composed of sulfentrazone mixed with six adjuvants (Adesil®, Break-Thru®, Assist®, Hoefix®, Fera® and Nortox® Vegetable Oil), a treatment with sulfentrazone without any adjuvant and a treatment without the herbicide. In the treatments with sulfentrazone, the herbicide was applied at a rate of 1.0 kg ha-1 at the top of the columns, and 12 hours after application, the columns were subjected to simulated rainfall (60 mm). To confirm leaching of sulfentrazone, soil samples were collected every 5 cm up to 50 cm in each column and transferred to 300 cm3 pots to conduct a bioassay using the species Sorghum bicolor. At 21 days after emergence (DAE) of sorghum, visual assessment of intoxication was performed and shoot dry matter percentage was determined. To determine the influence of adjuvants on persistence of sulfentrazone in the soil, new sorghum seeds were planted as soon as the sorghum plants from the first planting were cut; also, phytotoxicity scores were assigned and shoot dry matter was determined at 21 DAE. This procedure was repeated up to 173 days after herbicide application, when the plants showed no more visual symptoms of intoxication. The adjuvant Break-Thru® was effective at reducing leaching of sulfentrazone. The presence of adjuvants applied together with sulfentrazone did not influence the persistence of the herbicide in the study soil. Persistence of sulfentrazone lasted for 143 days