Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India
Online published on 15 December, 2011.
Calcium dodecylbenzenesulphonate (DBS-Ca), an important pesticide formulation surfactant used particularly in emulsifiable concentrates, was degraded by a composite soil microbial culture to the extent of 90% in 7 days. In Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis leales, 90% degradation on DBC-Ca ana its methylene blue sensitive products was observed in 15 days. Continuous exposure to UV light (254 nm) and 7–8 h/day exposure to sunlight took 15 and 63 days respectively for its disappearance. Monitoring of this surfactant alongwith the pesticidal active ingredients is suggested.
