Effect of Roundup Ultra on atrazine degradation in soil

Tank mixing pesticides and the use of prepackaged mixtures have become common agricultural practices. However, pesticide degradation in multi-pesticide systems is rarely evaluated. The objective of this laboratory study was to determine the effect of Roundup Ultra on atrazine degradation in soil. Based on a 2-mm glyphosate-soil interaction depth, the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate was added to Aatrex-amended and non-amended soil at rates of 0, 1 (43 mg ai kg(-1)), 2, 3, 4, and 5x. Treatments were incubated for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 days. Atrazine degradation was significantly different among treatments at 8 days. In the Ox treatment (Aatrex only), 87% of the atrazine was degraded. During the same 8-day period, atrazine degradation in the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5x treatments was 77%, 69%, 60%, 61%, and 52%, respectively. Atrazine degradation approached 97% for all treatments after 12 days and statistical differences were no longer observed. Atrazine degradation was inversely correlated with Roundup Ultra rate and microbial activity at 8 (r(2) =0.97) and 12 days (r(2) =0.92). These results indicate that Roundup Ultra stimulated microbial activity while simultaneously inhibiting atrazine degradation.