Application date as a controlling factor of pesticide transfers to surface water during runoff events

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
In agricultural watersheds, pesticide contamination in surface water mostly occurs during stormflow events. The AA. aimed to assess the sensitivity of the river network pesticide concentration patterns to application timing shifts within a plausible range of application dates, considering 2 pre-emergence herbicides (metolachlor and aclonifen) characterised by 2 different octanol/water partition coefficients. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied in the agricultural watershed of the river Save (south-western France), where wheat, maize, sorghum and sunflower are intensively grown. The pesticide application date was changed within a one-month interval and the pesticide concentration at catchment outlet was simulated from March to June 2010. By testing the behaviour of the 2 molecules, it was shown that sorption processes were influencing the control of application timing on the transfer to surface water. At last, the study discusses the potential implications of the sensitivity in terms of regional agricultural management practice design.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2014, n°. 119, p. 97-103, nombre de pages : 7, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena