Evaluation of leaching potential of oxyfluorfen in clay soil under field conditions

Oxyfluorfen is a selective pre and post emergent herbicide used to control certain annual broadleaf and grassy weeds in vegetables, fruits, cotton, ornamentals and on non-crop areas. It is a contact herbicide and light is required for it to affect target plants (USDA 1990). Oxyfluorfen has a strong tendency to adsorb to soil particles. It is therefore, unlikely to leach downward or to, contaminate groundwater under normal conditions. Herbicide leaching through soil is particularly important due to environmental and agronomic problems (Yen et al. 2003). Leaching is considered as main cause of ground contamination by herbicides (Walker 1989, Sondhia 2008).