Laboratory Studies on the Persistence of Biological Activity of Some Insecticides in Soils1

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Abstract
A laboratory bioassay procedure has been devised to assess the persistence of biological activity of insecticides in soil. Insecticides were divided into 3 groups: Group I: Highly residual; Group 2: Moderately residual; and Croup 3: Slightly residual. In sandy loam dieldrin and DDT were classified as Group 1 materials since there was no significant decrease in biological activity over the 48- week test period. Persistence of biological activity of the Croup 2 compounds, aldrin, Bay 37289 (O-ethyl 0-2,4,5- trichlorophenyl ethylphosphonothioate), (Dasanit® (0,0- diethyl O-[p- (methylsulfinyl) phenyl] phosphorothioate), and carbofuran was 16 weeks. The biological activity of the Group 3 compounds, parathion, diazinon, phorate, and Dursban®(O, O-diethyl 0-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate), disappeared within 2 to 4 weeks. In muck soil similar results were obtained. However. the persistence of biological activity of Bay 37289 and the organochlorine insecticides appeared to be somewhat shorter than in the sandy loam; that of the other materials slightly longer.

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