Degradation of Flutolanil in Soils under Flooded and Upland Conditions in the Laboratory

Abstract

[Aniline ring-¹⁴C(U)] flutolanil, 3′-isopropoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl) benzanilide, in soils was considerably stable under laboratory conditions, showing the half life of 160-300 days in three soils under flooded condition and 190-320 days under upland condition. Flutolanil decomposition proceeded more rapidly in Tochigi soil of high organic matter content than in Saitama and Okayama soils of low organic matter content and was attributable mainly to the formation of bound residues and ¹⁴CO₂, which accounted for 9-27% and 3-7%, respectively, of the applied radioactivity after 180 days. Three degradation products in the soils under flooded condition were detected and identified as 4′-hydroxy-3′-isopropoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzanilide, 3′-(hydroxymethyl) ethoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzanilide and 3′-hydroxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzanilide. Two additional products such as 3′-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzanilide and 4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzanilide were detected in upland soils.