Modeling of pH-dependent adsorption and leaching of MCPA in profiles of Polish mineral soils

This study aimed to determine the leaching potential of MCPA and the contribution of major soil components to its retention in 27 profiles of common Polish arable soils. Results of experiments and modeling of the pH-dependent adsorption indicated that the adsorption of the neutral and anionic forms of MCPA on soil organic matter are the predominant adsorption mechanisms, even in soil horizons with very low organic matter contents. The third most important mechanism was the adsorption of MCPA anions, most likely through the water bridging mechanism on sorption sites created by exchangeable Fe cations adsorbed in soil. It was found that in acidic soils with very low organic matter contents, the neutral form of MCPA was also adsorbed on the quartz and silica sorption sites of silt and sand. The value of r(2) was 78% when it was assumed that MCPA was adsorbed only on organic matter and 93% when all indicated mechanisms of adsorption on mineral soil components were included in the model fitted to data from all soil profiles. Simulations using FOCUS PELMO indicated that in two profiles, the 80th percentiles of the average yearly concentrations of MCPA in the leachate exceeded the European Union (EU) contamination limit of 0.1 mu g L-1. It was shown that when an assumption was made in the model of pH-dependent adsorption that MCPA was adsorbed only on organic matter, the leaching potential of MCPA was overestimated in the examined soils. Much better predictions were obtained when adsorption on mineral soil components was also included in the model. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.