Determination of sulfosulfuron residues in soil under wheat crop by a novel and cost-effective method and evaluation of its carryover effect.

A novel and cost-effective method of sulfosulfuron extraction has been developed using distilled water as an extraction solvent. Using this method, the environmental fate of sulfosulfuron was investigated in soil under wheat crop. Studies were conducted under natural field conditions in randomized block design and herbicide (75% water dispersible granules (WG)) was applied after 24 days of sowing. The rates of applications were 25 and 50 g of active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare. Soil samples were collected at predetermined intervals and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The minimum detection limit was found to be 0.001 micro g g(-1). The dissipation of sulfosulfuron followed first-order rate kinetics and dissipated with a half-life of 5.4-6.3 days. After harvest, field soil was used for conducting a pot experiment with bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) as test plants to study the carry over effect of sulfosulfuron. No phytotoxicity was observed to bottle gourd in pot experiment with harvest soil.