title: Polyethylene film incorporation into the horticultural soil of small periurban production units in Argentina.
abstract: Horticulture makes intensive use of soil and extensive use of polyethylene (PE) sheeting and pesticides, producing an environment where the dynamics between soil and plastics can affect pesticide fate. We have determined that the presence of plastic residues in the horticultural soil of small production units equals 10% of the soil area, being meso and macro-sections the predominant fragment sizes. All soil samples were taken from different plots located in Cuartel V, Moreno district, in the suburbs of Buenos Aires city, Argentina. Laboratory experiments were conducted to see the relations among pesticide, soil and PE film. Endosulfan recovery from LDPE films (25μm and 100μm) was studied, observing evidence that indicated migration to the inside of the plastic matrix. To further analyze the dynamics of pesticide migration to soil and atmosphere, experiments using chlorpyrifos, procymidone and trifluralin were performed in soil-plastic-atmosphere microenvironments, showing that up to 24h significant amounts of pesticides moved away from the PE film. To determine whether PE residues could act as potential pesticide collector in soil, column elution experiments were done using chlorpyrifos, procymidone and trifluralin. Results showed an important pesticide accumulation in the mulch film (584μg-2284μg pesticide/g plastic) compared to soil (13μg-32μg pesticide/g soil). Finally, chemical and photochemical degradation of deltamethrin adsorbed in PE film was studied, finding a protective effect on hydrolysis but no protective effect on photodegradation. We believe that a deeper understanding of the dynamics among soil, plastic and pesticides in horticultural productive systems may contribute to alert for the implications of PE use for plastic sheeting.
authors: Instituto de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento (UNGS), J. M. Gutiérrez 1150, (B1613GSX) Los Polvorines, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Ramos
authors: Instituto de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento (UNGS), J. M. Gutiérrez 1150, (B1613GSX) Los Polvorines, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Giselle
authors: G
authors: Berenstein
authors: Instituto de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento (UNGS), J. M. Gutiérrez 1150, (B1613GSX) Los Polvorines, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Enrique A
authors: EA
authors: Hughes
authors: Instituto de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento (UNGS), J. M. Gutiérrez 1150, (B1613GSX) Los Polvorines, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Zalts
authors: Instituto de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento (UNGS), J. M. Gutiérrez 1150, (B1613GSX) Los Polvorines, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 2° piso, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: jmontser@ungs.edu.ar.
authors: Javier M
authors: JM
authors: Montserrat
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001118:Argentina; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: Greenhouses; Horticultural soil; Mulching; Pesticides; Polyethylene film