Microbial degradation of propyzamide

AHRI Snapshots

Some excellent research conducted by Stephen Hole, under the watchful eye of Professor Steve Powles at the University of Adelaide in the mid-1990’s investigated the microbial degradation of propyzamide and another similar herbicide, carbetamide. Enhanced microbial degradation is where the soil bacteria that can eat a particular herbicide build up to very high levels so when the herbicide is applied it is broken down very quickly, effectively reducing the half-life of the herbicide.What they found was:Where carbetamide or propyzamide were used twice in the same winter growing season, the second application was roughly half as effective as the first.In another study, carbetamide efficacy was reduced from one growing season to the next when it had been applied to a field for seven consecutive years prior to the field research.Four years without carbetamide returned soil bacteria levels to similar levels to untreated soil.What has not been found so far:Any evidence of enhanced degradation of propyzamide that persists from one year to the next.Take a listen to the podcast to hear from Stephen Hole himself. And maybe you'll be inspired to take up where Stephen left off all those years ago!It's a bit hard to listen to this one as Stephen is out on his farm and the phone line was not spectacular, but it's worth hearing this snapshot on his research! Music: bensound.com

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