title: Toxic effects of four sulphonylureas herbicides on soil microbial biomass.
abstract: The effect of four triazinyl-sulfonylurea herbicides (cinosulfuron, prosulfuron, thifensulfuron methyl, triasulfuron) on soil microbial biomass, soil respiration, metabolic activity, metabolic quotient, and some enzymatic activities (acid and alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, arylsulphatase, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) were monitored under controlled conditions over 30 days. The herbicides were applied at the normal field dose (FD) and at ten-fold (10 FD) the field dose, in order to mimic a long term toxic effect. The measured soil microbial parameters showed that the FD had slight effects on soil microflora, while at 10 FD the tested herbicides exerted a stronger detrimental effect on soil microbial biomass and its biochemical activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sofo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scopa
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dumontet
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzatura
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pasquale
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006540:Herbicides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds