Effects of bentazon, metolachlor, trifluralin, imazethapyr, imazethapyr+lactofen, haloxyfop-methyl, glyphosate and chlorimuron-ethyl at rates of 2 and 10 times the equivalent commercial dose on soil microbial activity was evaluated in soil samples extracted from a field never treated before. Global soil microbe respiration, estimated by CO2 production at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 days of soil incubation and enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) at 8 and 28 days were used as bioindicators. Bentazon and mixture imazethapyr+lactofen at the highest rate and haloxyfop-methyl at both rates, inhibited soil respiration although with differences in timing and duration. None of the herbicides affected FDA hydrolysis. Dehydrogenase activity was inhibited at 8 days of incubation with bentazon and imazethapyr at high rates but it was stimulated by metolachlor and imazethapyr at low rate and glyphosate at the highest rate. Herbicide effects on soil microbial activity was detected with higher sensitivity by global soil microbe respiration and dehydrogenase activity than by FDA hydrolysis. Only dehydrogenase activity and soil respiration estimations at 8 days of soil incubation had significant correlation. Results indicated the need of multiple estimations when evaluating herbicides effects on soil microbiota
bentazon; dehydrogenase; FDA; haloxyfop-methyl; imazethapyr + lactofen; microbial respiration
