Investigating the impact of soil properties, application rates and environmental conditions on pyroxasulfone dissipation and its ecotoxicological effects on soil health in aridisols of Punjab.

This study is to understand the fate and ecological consequences of pyroxasulfone in aridisols of Punjab, a detailed dissipation study in soil, its influence on soil enzymes, microbial count and succeeding crops was evaluated. Half-lives (DT₅₀) increased with an increase in the application rate of pyroxasulfone. Dissipation of pyroxasulfone decreased with increase in organic matter content of soil and was slower in clay loam soil (DT₅₀ 12.50 to 24.89) followed by sandy loam (DT₅₀ 8.91 to 17.78) and loamy sand soil (DT₅₀ 6.45 to 14.89). Faster dissipation was observed under submerged conditions (DT₅₀ 2.9 to 20.99 days) than under field capacity conditions (DT₅₀ 6.45 to 24.89 days). Dissipation increased with increase in temperature with DT₅₀ varying from 6.46 to 24.88, 4.87 to 22.89 and 2.97 to 20.99 days at 25 ± 2, 35 ± 2 and 45 ± 2 °C, respectively. Dissipation was slower under sterile conditions and about 23.87- to 33.74-fold increase in DT₅₀ was observed under sterile conditions as compared to non-sterile conditions. The application of pyroxasulfone showed short-lived transitory effect on dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and soil microbial activity while herbicide has non-significant effect on soil urease activity. PCA suggested that dehydrogenase and bacteria were most sensitive among enzymatic and microbial activities. In efficacy study, pyroxasulfone effectively controlled Phalaris minor germination, with higher efficacy in loamy sand soil (GR₅₀ 2.46 µg mL⁻¹) as compared to clay loam soil (GR₅₀ 5.19 µg mL⁻¹). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]