CHEMICAL OR MICROBIAL-DEGRADATION OF SULFONYLUREAS IN SOIL .3. THIFENSULFURON-METHYL

The degradation of thifensulfuron-methyl was studied in a basic and an acidic soil. The rate and major pathway of degradation were similar in the two soils. However, the primary degradation product, thifensulfuron, was broken down more rapidly in the acidic soil. The rate of the first stage of degradation was slower in sterilized soils, indicating that a microbiological process is involved. With this chemical, the products of transformation in the two soils are different.