Further Studies on the Influence of Soil Moisture on the Toxicity of Insecticides in Soil1

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Abstract
Studies conducted on 3 soil types—sandy loam, clay, and muck—indicated that the influence of soil moisture on insecticide bioactivity was dependent on soil type. The most obvious effect occurred in the line sandy loam, where all the materials tested became increasingly active with increasing moisture. The effect was greatest with diazinon> parathion>DDT>heptachlor. In clay the insecticides became increasingly active with increasing moisture, but the overall effect was less pronounced than in sandy loam. Heptachlor was affected most, followed by diazinon, DDT, and parathion. In muck soil the materials, with the exception of parathion, were less active at intermediate moisture levels than at the extremes. The basic and practical significance of the results is discussed.