Influence of microbial community on degradation of flubendiamide in two Indian soils

Degradation of flubendiamide as affected by microbial population count in two Indian soils (red and alluvial) varying in physicochemical properties was studied under sterile and non-sterile conditions. Recovery of flubendiamide in soil was in the range of 94.7-95.9% at 0.5 and 1.0 mu g g(-1), respectively. The DT50 of flubendiamide at the level of 10 mu g g(-1) in red soil under sterile and non-sterile conditions was found to be 140.3 and 93.7 days, respectively, and in alluvial soil under sterile and non-sterile conditionwas 181.1 and 158.4 days, respectively. Residues of flubendiamide dissipated faster in red soil (non-sterile followed by sterile) as compared to alluvial (non-sterile soil followed by sterile soil). A wide difference in half-life of red and alluvial soil under sterile and non-sterile conditions indicated that the variation in physicochemical properties of red and alluvial soil as well as the presence of microbes play a great role for degradation of flubendiamide. The results revealed that slowerdegrading alluvial soil possessed microbes with degradative capacity. The degradation rate in this soil was significantly reduced by some of its physicochemical characteristics, despite sterile and non-sterile conditions, which was faster in red soil.