Determination of residue levels of imazamox herbicide (2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1 H-imidazol-2-yl]-5-(methoxymethl)-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid) in soil and drainage water

The study was completed in Kirklareli province in the Thrace region of Turkey in 2014. The study was conducted to determine the primary material and derivatives of imazamox (imazapic, imazapyr, imazethapyr, and imazaquin), the most commonly used herbicide in sunflower production in the region, which leaves residues in soil and drainage water. The study was completed using two soils, three imazamox doses, and three irrigation applications in three repetitions. According to the results obtained from the study, we determined 9.3-146.1 mu g L-1 imazamox residue in T1 soil (sandy loam, pH: 4.05, CEC: 4.77 me 100 g(-1)) while 11.7-221.6 mu g L-1 imazamox residue was found in T2 soil (loam, pH: 7.28, CEC: 19.36 me 100 g(-1)). The imazamox identified in the upper layers of soil was proportionally higher compared with the lower levels. The assessment of residue amounts overtime indicated an order of first week > sixth week > harvest. Imazamox and its derivatives (imazapyr, imazapic, imazethapyr, and imazaquin) were encountered in water samples taken from drains, and the values varied from 0.10 to 17.3 mu g L-1. The residues of imazamox and derivatives identified in a limited number of drainage water samples were above the permitted 0.1 mu g L-1 value for pesticides by the TS-266 standard and 96/83/EC and 75/440/CEE.