aDivision of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India
bDivision of Design of Experiments, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India
The effect of addition of two indigenously developed superabsorbent hydrogels (P-gel and K-gel), to sandy loam soil on sorption and leaching behavior of metribuzin was studied under laboratory conditions. Addition of both hydrogels to soil improved metribuzin sorption significantly as indicated by higher Freundlich adsorption constant (Kf) values (0.676–2.228) for all hydrogel treatments compared to control soil (0.194). Breakthrough time and maximum concentration of metribuzin in the leachate changed significantly on hydrogel application. Soil columns amended with both P-gel and K-gel at two soil depths (3 cm and 6 cm) registered reduction in leaching losses of metribuzin as compared to control column. The above findings indicated that hydrogel application in addition to its established role in improving water and nutrient use by plants, can also aid in mitigating groundwater pollution associated with herbicide losses.
Superabsorbent hydrogels, soil conditioners, sorption, mobility, metribuzin, sandy loam soil
