Agrichemicals in ground water of the Midwestern USA: relations to soil characteristics

A comprehensive set of soil characteristics were examined to determine the effect of soil on the transport of agrichemicals to ground water. This paper examines the relation of local soil characteristics to concentrations and occurrence of nitrate, atrazine (2-chloro-4 ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental quality 1999-11, Vol.28 (6), p.1908-1915
Main Authors: Burkart, Michael R., Kolpin, Dana W., Jaquis, Robert J., Cole, Kevin J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Applied sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Biological and physicochemical properties of pollutants. Interaction in the soil
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Groundwaters
Natural water pollution
Pollution
Pollution, environment geology
Soil and sediments pollution
Soil and water pollution
Soil science
USA, Midwest
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:A comprehensive set of soil characteristics were examined to determine the effect of soil on the transport of agrichemicals to ground water. This paper examines the relation of local soil characteristics to concentrations and occurrence of nitrate, atrazine (2-chloro-4 ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-trazine), and atrazine residue [atrazine + deethylatrazine (2-amino-4-chloro-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) + deisopropylatrazine (2-amino-4-chloro-6-ethylamino-s-triazine)] from 99 wells completed in unconsolidated aquifers across the midwestern USA. The occurrence and concentrations of nitrate and atrazine in ground water were directly related to soil characteristics that determine the rate of water movement. The substantial differences in the relations found among soil characteristics and nitrate and atrazine in ground water suggest that different processes affect the transformation, adsorption, and transport of these contaminants. A multivariate analysis determined that the soil characteristics examined explained the amount of variability in concentrations for nitrate (19.0%), atrazine (33.4%), and atrazine residue (28.6%). These results document that, although soils do affect the transport of agrichemicals to ground water, other factors such as hydrology, land use, and climate must also be considered to understand the occurrence of agrichemicals in ground water.
ISSN:0047-2425
1537-2537
DOI:10.2134/jeq1999.00472425002800060030x