Assessment of atrazine distribution in Shiraz soils, south of Iran.

The main objective of this study was focused on determining atrazine residual concentration in agricultural soil in Shiraz and its vicinity. Twenty two sampling fields were selected by grid sampling in Shiraz and its vicinity. Atrazine residual concentrations in 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm soil depths were in the range of 15-550 microg kg(-1) soil. Data showed that the concentration of atrazine did not exceed the soil quality standard for agriculture which is 22 mg kg(-1) soil and there was no significant difference between depth and atrazine residual concentration (p > 0.05). Although, in all sampling regions in Shiraz and its vicinity, the concentration of atrazine did not exceed the soil quality standard for agriculture, atrazine leaching and dissipation rate in soil and risk of atrazine ground water pollution must be determined.