Oxyfluorfen bioavailability in Brazilian Savanna soils

Abstract

Oxyfluorfen is a pre-emergent herbicide applied via soil; however, the soil attributes have not been considered to predict the herbicide doses. This study aimed to evaluate the bioavailability of the oxyfluorfen herbicide in Brazilian Savanna soils with contrasting attributes. The experiment was carried out in a 6 x 8 factorial scheme, with 6 replications. The evaluated factors were soil types [Gleissolo Melânico distrófico - GMd (Typic Humaquept); Latossolo Vermelho ácrico - LVw (Rhodic Acrustox); Latossolo Vermelho distrófico - LVd (Rhodic Haplustox); Neossolo Quartzarênico órtico - RQo (Typic Quartzpsamment); Neossolo Flúvico Tb distrófico - RYbd (Fluventic Dystrustept); and washed sand] and oxyfluorfen doses (0; 360; 480; 720; 1,440; 2,880; 4,320; and 5,760 g a.i. ha-1). The herbicide bioavailability was determined according to the bioassay methodology. The dose that provided 80 % of Cucumis sativum control (C80%) ranged from 9.9 (LVw) to 1,884.4 g a.i. ha-1 (GMd), what can be attributed to the high sorption of the herbicide in the GMd, as observed by the adsorptive rate. The soil texture did not show correlation with the oxyfluorfen bioavailability. In the LVd, which is from the same order and with texture similar to that of the LVw, the C80% was 76 times higher (754.28 g a.i. ha-1). Furthermore, for the RYbd, which is a sandy soil, the C80% was even high (1,256.9 g a.i. ha-1). The cation exchange capacity (CEC) (-0.83**) was the only soil attribute able to predict the herbicide bioavailability. The oxyfluorfen bioavailability is highly dependent on the soil attributes, and, in Brazilian Savanna soils, it can be predicted using the CEC.

KEYWORDS: Pre-emergent herbicide, weed control, oxisoils.