Project Number: 5310-12130-008-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 30, 2004
End Date: Sep 29, 2009

Objective:
Conduct research on the fate and transport of agricultural pesticides (i.e., fumigants, insecticides and herbicides) and investigate the effect of various soil and cultural processes on pesticide movement from the root zone. Conduct research that provides information applicable to "real-world" conditions both in terms of efficacy and environmental fate. Develop new management approaches that are efficacious and that minimize emissions to the atmosphere, and transport to surface water and ground water.

Approach:
An experimental system will be developed to assist in improving our understanding of the effect of soil properties, soil moisture, temperature, soil salinity, and surface environmental conditions on the emission of pesticides from soil. The overall goal of this research is to develop an accurate method to characterize the emissions of pesticides that doesn¿t require large-scale, expensive, complex, and time-consuming field experiments. Specifically, (1) an automated laboratory column system consisting of stainless steel cylinders approximately 1.5 m in length and 12 cm in diameter will be constructed. A gas-sampling valve system controlled by a datalogger will be developed to allow automatic sampling of the column headspace. This information will be used to obtain volatilization rates from the column after injection of a soil fumigant at a specified depth from the soil surface. Initial experiments will be conducted using soil from the Buttonwillow, CA field site to provide a baseline for more detailed future studies. (2) A new wind-measurement system will be developed for deployment in remote field locations. The system will consist of a minimum of 5 Windsonic anemometers mounted on a 3 m mast. The center pole of the mast will be constructed of 1 ½ aluminum pipe consisting of two sections and three 1 ¼ aluminum pipe cross bars will be attached with slip-on pipe connectors. A stabilizing system will be developed to ensure the mast remain stationary during high winds. The system will be field tested prior to the next large-scale field experiment. Formerly 5310-12130-007-03S (JUL 07).