The effect of vermicompost added to a loam soil on the leaching behaviour of two herbicides (triclopyr and fluroxypyr) was examined. Mobility of the herbicides was assessed using disturbed soil columns under laboratory conditions. In both cases, the addition of vermicompost significantly increased the sorption of the compounds. For both, DT50 values were slightly higher in the amended soil, due to the increased adsorption. Rate constants (k) calculated according to pseudo-first order model were significantly lower in the case of triclopyr (very persistent), which led to a much lower degradation rate compared to fluroxypyr (persistent) in both unamended and amended soils. Values calculated for the experimental leaching index (ELI) in unamended and amended soils showed medium and high leachability for fluroxypyr (0.31 and 0.29) and triclopyr (0.72 and 0.70), respectively. Other index-based screening models (GUS, RLPI, LIX) also catalogue both herbicides as potential leachers. Results confirm that triclopyr and fluroxypyr may contaminate groundwater resources.
Keywords: Adsorption; Amended soil; Degradation; Herbicides; Mobility.