Journal of Environmental Biology

Adsorption, desorption and mobility of metsulfuron-methyl

in soils of the oil palm agroecosystem in Malaysia

Author Details

B. S. Ismail

(Corresponding author)

School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Malaysia

e-mail: ismail@ukm.my

K. E. Ooi

School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Malaysia

Publication Data

Paper received:

26 September 2010

Revised received:

12 July 2011

Accepted:

06 August 2011

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate adsorption, desorption and mobility of metsulfuron-methyl in soils of the oil palm agroecosystem consisting of the Bernam, Selangor, Rengam and Bongor soil series. The lowest adsorption of metsulfuron-methyl occurred in the Bongor soil (0.366 ml g^-1), and the highest in the Bernam soil (2.837 ml g^-1). The K_fads (Freundlich) values of metsulfuron-methyl were 0.366, 0.560, 1.570 and 2.837 ml g^-1 in Bongor, Rengam, Selangor and Bernam soil, respectively. The highest K_fdes value of metsulfuron-methyl, observed in the Bernam soil, was 2.563 indicating low desorption 0.280 (relatively strong retention). In contrast, the lowest K_fdes value of 0.564 was observed for the Bongor soil, which had the lowest organic matter (1.43%) and clay content (13.2%). Soil organic matter and clay content were the main factors affecting the adsorption of metsulfuron-methyl. The results of the soil column leaching studies suggested that metsulfuron-methyl has a moderate potential for mobility in the Bernam and Bongor soil series with 19.3% and 39%, respectively for rainfall at 200 mm. However, since metsulfuron-methyl is applied at a very low rate (the maximum field application rate used was 30 g ha^-1) and is susceptible to biodegradation, the potential for ground water contamination is low.? ???

Key words

Adsorption, Desorption, Metsulfuron-methyl, Mobility, Leaching?

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