Management practices to minimize atrazine loss in surface water runoff

摘要

Atrazine herbicide remains widely used for weed management in corn (Zea mays) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Its predominant use in the US Great Plains is soil surface application at seeding time, coinciding with the period of highest annual precipitation. On the predominately fine-textured soils of the region, this use may result in excessive atrazine loss in surface water runoff. Management options are available which reduce atrazine loss in runoff by 70 percent or more, without jeopardizingthe weed control benefits. These include: 1) pre-plant soil incorporation in tilled fields; 2) fall application in no-till fields; and 3) post-emergence applications at reduced rates.