Stimulated rhizodegradation of atrazine by selected plant species.

The efficacy of vegetative buffer strips (VBS) in removing herbicides deposited from surface runoff is related to the ability of plant species to promote rapid herbicide degradation. A growth chamber study was conducted to compare C-atrazine (ATR) degradation profiles in soil rhizospheres from different forage grasses and correlate ATR degradation rates and profiles with microbial activity using three soil enzymes. The plant treatments included: (i) orchardgrass ( L.

Agroforestry buffers for nonpoint source pollution reductions from agricultural watersheds.

Despite increased attention and demand for the adoption of agroforestry practices throughout the world, rigorous long-term scientific studies confirming environmental benefits from the use of agroforestry practices are limited. The objective was to examine nonpoint-source pollution (NPSP) reduction as influenced by agroforestry buffers in watersheds under grazing and row crop management. The grazing study consists of six watersheds in the Central Mississippi Valley wooded slopes and the row crop study site consists of three watersheds in a paired watershed design in Central Claypan areas.

Reducing herbicides and veterinary antibiotics losses from agroecosystems using vegetative buffers.

Multiple species vegetative buffer strips (VBSs) have been recommended as a cost-effective approach to mitigate agrochemical transport in surface runoff derived from agronomic operations, while at the same time offering a broader range of long-term ecological and environmental benefits. However, the effect of VBS designs and species composition on reducing herbicide and veterinary antibiotic transport has not been well documented. An experiment consisting of three VBS designs and one continuous cultivated fallow control replicated in triplicate was conducted to assess effectiveness in reducing herbicide and antibiotic transport for claypan soils.

Dissipation of sulfamethazine and tetracycline in the root zone of grass and tree species.

The detection of veterinary antibiotics (VAs) in drinking water resources resulting from manure disposal operations has raised public health concerns. Previous studies have demonstrated the benefits of using multispecies vegetated buffer strips (VBS) to reduce agrichemical transport from agroecosystems. However, VA fate and subsequent effects of VAs on microbial activities in the root zone ofVBS have not been well documented.

Influence of prairie restoration on CT-measured soil pore characteristics.

Restored prairies are expected to improve soil physical properties, yet little is known about the extent of change to soil properties and how rapidly these changes take place. The objective of this study was to compare effects of prairie restoration on computed tomography (CT)-measured pore parameters. Undisturbed soil cores (76 mm diam.

Phosphorus loss and runoff characteristics in three adjacent agricultural watersheds with claypan soils.

Effects of precipitation, runoff, and management on total phosphorus (TP) loss from three adjacent, row-cropped watersheds in the claypan region of northeastern Missouri were examined from 1991 to 1997 to understand factors affecting P loss in watersheds dominated by claypan soils. Runoff samples from each individual runoff event were analyzed for TP and sediment concentration. The annual TP loss ranged from 0.

Degradation of isoxaflutole (balance) herbicide by hypochlorite in tap water.

Chlorine has been widely employed for the disinfection of drinking water. Additionally, it has the capacity to oxidize many organic compounds in water. Isoxaflutole (Balance; IXF) belongs to a new class of isoxazole herbicides.

Determination of isoxaflutole (balance) and its metabolites in water using solid phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet or mass spectrometry.

Balance (isoxaflutole, IXF) belongs to a new family of herbicides referred to as isoxazoles. IXF has a very short soil half-life (<24 h), degrading to a biologically active diketonitrile (DKN) metabolite that is more polar and considerably more stable. Further degradation of the DKN metabolite produces a nonbiologically active benzoic acid (BA) metabolite.

Agroforestry practices, runoff, and nutrient loss: a paired watershed comparison.

A paired watershed study consisting of agroforestry (trees plus grass buffer strips), contour strips (grass buffer strips), and control treatments with a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.