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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Production Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228268
Title: Enhanced Atrazine Degradation and Implications for Weed Control in Corn

Author
item Krutz, Larry
item Shaner, Dale
item Reddy, Krishna
item Zablotowicz, Robert
item Wiles, Lori

Submitted to: Agricultural Research Service Station Bulletin
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2008
Publication Date: 6/30/2008
Citation: Krutz, L.J., Shaner, D.L., Reddy, K.N., Zablotowicz, R.M., Wiles, L. Enhanced Atrazine Degradation and Implications for Weed Control in Corn. Agricultural Research Service Station Bulletin, pp. 1-6. 2008.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Enhanced atrazine degradation is the phenomenon whereby the herbicide is rapidly biodegraded by a population of soil bacteria that has developed the ability to use the pesticide as a nutrient source because of previous exposure to it or other s-triazine herbicides. This phenomenon has been reported for agricultural soils from around the globe. The agronomic significance of enhanced atrazine degradation is decreased herbicide persistence which may result in reduced residual weed control. Thus, the objectives of this USDA-ARS FACT SHEET are to inform the public of the following: 1) the agronomic significance of enhanced atrazine degradation; 2) the scope of the problem; 3) that reduced residual weed control has been confirmed under laboratory and field conditions; 4) the phenomenon can arise following one atrazine application, but that weed control issues typically occur only after three or more consecutive years of atrazine use; 5) that soils exhibiting enhanced atrazine degradation often rapidly degrade other s-triazine herbicides; and 6) there are means to mediate the adverse effects of enhanced atrazine degradation in corn production systems.