The effects of copper on microbial activity and the degradation of atrazine and indoxacarb in a New Zealand soil

► A soil was fortified with copper and the degradation of two pesticides investigated. ► Soil microbiomass and enzyme activities decreased with increasing Cu concentrations. ► The proportion of fungal biomass increased with increasing soil Cu concentrations. ► Copper did not inhibit the degradation of indoxacarb and atrazine. ► Copper may alter the degradation of the atrazine metabolite hydroxyatrazine in soil.