Biotechnological strategies for atrazine phytoremediation in Humid Pampa

MERINI, LJ; MASSOT, F; CALABRO LOPEZ A; GIULIETTI, AM

Mendoza

Congreso; XLVIII Reunión Anual Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2012

As one of the main world atrazine (ATZ) consumers (7000 ton.y-1), the need of developing biotechnological strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of ATZ application associated to intensive agricultural practices is evident. In this way, a pilot scale open field experiment was performed to assess the phytoremediation performance of the recently reported atrazine tolerant ryegrass species (Lolium multiflorum) in a cornfield. Accordingly, a 16 ha field was selected in Ramallo city vicinity (30°40?35,2?? S ? 60°09?21,0?? W), as representative of the intensive agricultural practices. Soil was sampled before sowing and 36 plots of 100 m2 were settled to evenly cover the plot. Then, corn crop was sowed and 2 L.ha-1 of Atrazine500 (Dow) applied postemergence. After harvest, ryegrass was sowed at 22 Kg.ha-1 rate in a paired plots fashion. Core soil samples were monthly collected and separated in different depths in order to assess either the horizontal or the vertical ATZ movement. Soil samples were extracted and ATZ and metabolites content analyzed by HPLC-UV. Parallel, soil agronomical properties were assessed. Results indicate that ryegrass implantation improves soil ATZ degradation and agronomical properties. Concluding, ryegrass-intercropping strategy fits as biotechnological strategy for minimizing ATZ environmental impact associated to intensive agronomical practices.