Leaching and degradation of ethametsulfuron-methyl in soil.

Leaching and degradation of the herbicide ethametsulfuron-methyl[methyl 2-[(4-ethoxy-6-methylamino-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)carbamoylsulfamoyl]benzoate] in three soils were investigated under laboratory conditions. Ethametsulfuron-methyl was mobile on soils when tested using non-aged and aged soil columns; this mobility agreed reasonably well with Freundlich soil isotherm constants. It was found that ethametsulfuron-methyl was more mobile in alkaline sandy Vertisol soil and neutral loamy Alfisol soil than in acidic clayey Red soil. Degradation of ethametsulfuron-methyl in soils was pH-dependent; calculated half-life (t(1/2)) values ranged from 13 to 67 days. Ethametsulfuron-methyl was more persistent in neutral or weakly basic than in acidic soil. Five soil metabolites were isolated and identified by LC/MS/MS analysis. The degradation pathways included the cleavage of the sulfonylurea bridge, N- and O-dealkylation, and triazine ring opening.