ATRAZINE RUNOFF AND LEACHING LOSSES FROM SOIL IN TILTED BEDS AS INFLUENCED BY 3 RATES OF LAGOON EFFLUENT

Soil organic matter is frequently associated with reduced herbicide mobility and phytotoxicity. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of lagoon effluent application on runoff and leaching losses of atrazine. Tilted beds, packed with Tifton soil and equipped with runoff and leachate collection funnels, were utilized. Lagoon effluent was applied at three rates, followed by atrazine and bromide application. Simulated rainfall (5 cm h-1) was applied for two hours, and runoff and leachate were collected. Increasing the rate of effluent application increased runoff flow rate and decreased leaching flow rate. The percentage of atrazine lost in runoff increased with effluent application rate, but the percentage lost to leaching decreased. Therefore, the total atrazine lost was not affected by effluent application rate. However, lagoon effluent application to land can increase the potential for atrazine runoff. Care must be taken to avoid atrazine contamination of surface waters from effluent amended land.