Microbial Degradation of Soil Applied Herbicides

The ability of some soil bacteria to degrade the herbicides, chloroxuron (N-4-(4-chlorophenoxy) phenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-urea) and metobromuron (N-bromo-phenyl)-N-methoxy-N-methylurea) in laboratory experiments was investigated. The Rf and maximum absorption range values of the original herbicides and the end products after incubation with soil microorganisms indicated that new products were formed. The microorganisms were gram-positive bacilli (rod-shaped). On agar, two different colonies were identified. It is concluded that chloroxuron and metobromuron are unlikely to persist in soils.