Field study of methidathion in soil amended with biosolid and a cationic surfactant under different irrigation regimes. Solute transport modeling

Four experimental plots located in Granada (Spain) were used to investigate the potential movement of the insecticide methidathion during three treatments in a period of three years. To increase pesticide soil retention a municipal biosolid and the cationic surfactant, tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (TDTMA), were used as soil amendments. The presence of the insecticide was monitored in soil and water samples at different depths up to one meter. Soil solution was sampled by ceramic suction cups installed at three depths (25, 75 and 100 cm). No effect of the amendments on pesticide mobility was observed. Experimental results showed that pesticide leaching occurred in the upper soil layer. Although some sporadic high water soil concentrations were found, these were attributed to preferential flow processes. This was confirmed by the absence of high pesticide concentration in soil samples at similar depths. Pesticide mobility was mainly affected by the irrigation employed. Experimental results were compared with theoretical data simulated with the mathematical model FocusPelmo. The resemblance between theoretical and experimental soil data seems to confirm the preferential flow processes. Otherwise, the lack of fit between the soil water data were attributed to the ceramic devices employed, that could suffer an “ageing process” which would cause bias in the determinations.