Influence of soil characteristics on copper sorption from a copper oxychloride fungicide.

The objective of this work was to assess the sorption of copper (Cu) applied as a Cu-oxychloride metalaxyl formulation by soils characterized by anthropogenic accumulation of Cu due to agricultural activity. The methods involved batch incubation of soils with a Cu-oxychloride metalaxy-based fungicide suspended in 0.01 M CaCl(2), phase separation, and determination of the concentration of Cu (Cu) in solution. Results showed that specific soil properties influenced solubilization of the Cu from the fungicide. The amount of dissolved Cu depended on the soil pH, its potential acidity, and its cation exchange capacity. The amount of anthropogenic Cu in the soil had a minor influence on soluble Cu after the addition of the fungicide. Thus, Cu-based antifungal treatment can increase the local concentration of soluble Cu in acid soils but is not likely to affect the [Cu] in moderately acidic or neutral soils.