The leaching of thiamethoxam in two Brazilian soils, a typic Acriferric Red Latosol (LVwf) and a typic Dystrophic Red-Yellow Argisol (PVAd), was investigated in macrolysimeters (1.0 m diameter and depth of 0.45, 0.90 and 1.80 m) of undisturbed material of the soils, which were kept without vegetation and under field conditions. The insecticide was applied at the beginning of the rainy season, using the formulation Actara 250 W®, which was diluted in 100 mL of water and applied on the lysimeters surface. The water percolated through the lysimeters was collected until the end of rainy season of the following year, with samples being taken for determination of thiamethoxam concentration, performed by HPLC. The results showed a high mobility of thiamethoxam in both soils, with more intense leaching of the compound in the PVAd than in the LVwf. The total amounts of thiamethoxam leached below 0.45 m were equivalent to 53.8 and 19.4% of the applied amount, respectively for the PVAd and LVwf. Thiamethoxam residues were also found in the water collected from the 0.90 and 1.80 m lysimeters of both soils. These results indicate a high potential of thiamethoxam leaching under practical conditions of its use in the studied soils, despite the lack of vegetation.
Pesticide; lysimeter; contamination; groundwater
