Chlormequat residues and dissipation rates in cotton crops and soil

A simple and reliable analytical method for chlormequat residues in cotton and soil was established in this study. The residual levels and dissipation rates of chlormequat in cotton crops and soil were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy (HPLC–MS). The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.05, 0.1, 0.1 mg/kg for soil, cotton seeds and cotton leaves, respectively. The mean half-life of chlormequat was 4.47 days in cotton plants and was 4.34 days in soil. The final residues of chlormequat in cotton seeds were below 0.5 mg/kg (the MRL of China), while the chlormequat residues could not be detected in soil. Low residues in cotton seed and soil suggest that this pesticide may be safe to use under the recommended dosage.