Degradation of Benthiocarb in Soils as Affected by Soil Conditions

Studies on the Metabolism of Benthiocarb (Part IV)

Abstract

Some factors affecting the degradation of ¹⁴C-benthiocarb (S-4-chlorobenzyl N, N-diethylthiocarbamate) labelled at the benzene-ring in soils were studied. The degradation rates of ¹⁴C-benthiocarb in three different soils under upland, oxidative flooded and reductive flooded conditions were compared. ¹⁴C-Benthiocarb was rapidly degraded under oxidative conditions, but slowly under reductive conditions. Very small differences in the degradation rates were observed among different soils. Under oxidative conditions ¹⁴C-carbon dioxide was liberated remarkably with the degradation of ¹⁴C-benthiocarb. The degradation was remarkably retarded by sterilizing the soils. The repeated application of benthiocarb, or its incorporation into the soil with simetryne, CNP or propanil had no significant effect on the degradation rate.