Degradation of kresoxim-methyl in soil: Impact of varying moisture, organic matter, soil sterilization, soil type, light and atmospheric CO2 level

- Kresoxim-methyl rapidly forms acid metabolite in soil.
- Total residues (kresoxim methyl + metabolite) dissipated with T1/2 of 3.9-56.8 d.
- Degradation faster under anaerobic condition compared to aerobic condition.
- Increased degradation with light exposure, sludge amendment and elevated CO2 level.
- Degradation faster in Inceptisol compared to Ultisol.

In the present investigation, persistence of kresoxim-methyl (a broad spectrum strobilurin fungicide) was studied in two different soil types of India namely Inceptisol and Ultisol. Results revealed that kresoxim-methyl readily form acid metabolite in soil. Therefore, residues of kresoxim-methyl were quantified on the basis of parent molecule alone and sum total of kresoxim-methyl and its acid metabolite. Among the two soil types, kresoxim-methyl and total residues dissipated at a faster rate in Inceptisol (T1/2 0.9 and 33.8 d) than in Ultisol (T1/2 1.5 and 43.6 d). Faster dissipation of kresoxim-methyl and total residues was observed in submerged soil conditions (T1/2 0.5 and 5.2 d) followed by field capacity (T1/2 0.9 and 33.8 d) and air dry (T1/2 2.3 and 51.0 d) conditions. Residues also dissipated faster in 5% sludge amended soil (T1/2 0.7 and 21.1 d) and on Xenon-light exposure (T1/2 0.5 and 8.0 d). Total residues of kresoxim-methyl dissipated at a faster rate under elevated CO2 condition (∼550 μL L−1) than ambient condition (∼385 μL L−1). The study suggests that kresoxim-methyl alone has low persistence in soil. Because of the slow dissipation of acid metabolite, the total residues (kresoxim-methyl + acid metabolite) persist for a longer period in soil. Statistical analysis using SAS 9.3 software and Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) revealed the significant effect of moisture regime, organic matter, microbial population, soil type, light exposure and atmospheric CO2 level on the dissipation of kresoxim-methyl from soil (at 95% confidence level p < 0.0001).