ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Evaluating Hexaconazole Leaching in Laboratory
and Field Experiments: Effects of Application Rate,
Soil Type, and Simulated Rainfall
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1
Analytical and Quality Development Unit, Product Development and Advisory Services Division (PDAS), Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Selangor, Malaysia
2
School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Selangor, Malaysia
3
Ganoderma and Diseases Research for Oil Palm Unit (GanoDROP), Biological Research Division,
Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Selangor, Malaysia
Submission date: 2017-07-31
Final revision date: 2017-09-25
Acceptance date: 2017-09-27
Online publication date: 2018-04-13
Publication date: 2018-05-30
Corresponding author
Zainol Maznah
Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No 6, Persiaran Institusi, 43000 Selangor, Malaysia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2018;27(5):2163-2170
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ABSTRACT
In the present study we investigated the leaching behaviour of hexaconazole fungicide in two soil
packed columns, namely disturbed and undisturbed soil columns in field conditions. The effects
of simulated rainfall (100 mL, 200 mL, and 400 mL) and application rate at recommended dosage
(4.5 g a.i/palm tree) and double recommended dosage (9.0 g a.i/palm tree) were also studied. The residual
of hexaconazole in the soil column was observed to be significantly different between the volumes
of simulated rainfall application and decreased with increased soil depth. The highest concentrations
were detected at the soil surface (0-10 cm), where 53-63% of the hexaconazole remained after applications.
No significant difference was found between the disturbed and undisturbed soil packed column when
treated with the recommended and double recommended dosages of hexaconazole. In order to understand
the hexaconazole leaching pattern, a field study experiment with the same soil properties and application
rate was conducted. The results showed that hexaconazole was distributed downward through the
preferential flow and soil crack in the sandy loam soil profile. The groundwater ubiquity scores (GUS)
Index for hexaconazole calculated in Malaysian soil was 4.61, indicating that hexaconazole has a high risk
of contaminating groundwater resources.