Effect of Organic Amendments and Inorganic Nitrogen on Biological and Chemical Degradation of Atrazine in Soil

This study was conducted to compare the impact of various organic amendments with different C/N ratios and chemical compositions on biological and chemical degradation of Atrazine in sterile and non-sterile soils. The experiment was carried out in a factorial arrangement (2×6×2) including two soil types (sterile and non sterile soils), six types of organic amendments (vermicompost, cow manure, glucose, starch and sawdust and without organic matter) and two levels of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (0 and 250 mg kg-1), with three replications. Initial Atrazine concentration in soil samples (silty loam) was adjusted at 100 mg.kg-1. Soil samples were amended by organic materials at the rate of 5% by weight and treated with 250 mg inorganic nitrogen fertilizer(NH4NO3). Half of soil samples were sterilized by HgCl2. Residual Atrazine concentration in soil samples were determined by HPLC at the end of 20, 40 and 60 days incubation time. The results showed that all the applied organic amendments (except for cow manure) and inorganic nitrogen treatment reduced biological degradation of Atrazine in non- sterile soil samples. It was not possible to predict the biological degradation of Atrazine based on C/N ratio of organic amendments and microbial activity. The results also showed that chemical degradation of Atrazine after 60 days of incubation was not affected by organic amendment and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer.