Degradation of o-sec-butylphenyl N-methylcarbamate (BPMC) in soil.

Disappearance rate of BPMC in paddy soils increased with the increase of BPMC concentration in soils, and in contrast, it declined wiht higher moisture content. Since the disapperance rate of BPMC in soils was retarded by addition of sodium azide, it was suggested that soil microorganism(s) participated in the degradation of BPMC. On the other hand, it was probable that organic matter content was one of the main factors participating in the disappearance of BPMC. The soil-bound residues of BPMC which were extractable by heating with 0.5 N HC1 for 15 min, were relatively low, and their percentages ranged from 2.4 to 6.6%. The bound-residues were increased by addition of calcium or magnesium sulfate.