The degradation rate of the herbicide ametryn in a sandy soil was evaluated comparing the amendment of sugar cane straw cultivated with or without ametryn treatment, with non-amended soil, and sterilized soil control. Samples of 10g of soil were placed in flasks, treated with 1ml of 14C-ametryn (8mg/ml and 800Bq/mg), and were tightly closed and incubated in the dark at 23oC for 63 days. Every week the CO2 traps were changed and soil water content ajusted to 70% of soil field capacity. The mineralization rate of ametryn was 12 and 13 times higher with soil amendement of treated leaves and non-treated leaves, respectivily as compared to non amended soil. The leaf amendement led to a greater number of microrganism colonies, higher microbial activity and more ametryn metabolites than non-amended or sterilized soil. The results suggest that ametryn degrades mainy through microbial co-metabolism.
degradation; ametryn; sugar cane; herbicide
