1USDA, ARS, Soils Dept., Univ. of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
2U. S. Salinity Laboratory, USDA, 4500 Glenwood Dr., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
3CRC for Soil and Land Management, Waitc Road, Urbane, SA, 5064, Australia.
Department of Soil and Environmental Science, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
Online published on 3 November, 2011.
Physical and chemical non-equilibrium processes affecting the fate and transport of surface-applied or soil-incorporated pesticides in the unsaturated (Vadose) zone between the soil surface and the groundwater table are discussed from an environmental pollution point of view. A review is also given of alternative mathematical models for predicting the movement of these chemicals under a given set of experimental conditions. While predictive models provide important tools in both research and management, comprehensive field data sets on pesticide transport and volatilization remain needed to accurately assess and improve the performance of these models. Improved technologies for measuring pesticide transport and degradation processes in heterogeneous field soil are also needed.
