Two greenhouse experiments were carried out from March to December 1999, to evaluate the leaching potential of imazaquin in soil columns, after applying different levels of liming in samples of Red Latosol Dystrophyc (LV) and Dusky Red Latosol (LR). The experiments consisted basically in spraying imazaquin (150 g ha-1) on the top of columns filled with soils with different levels of liming, what caused them to be at different final pH values. After spraying, a simulated rainfall of 30 mm (LV) or 90 mm (LR) was applied to the top of the columns. Three days later, cucumber (LV), lentil and sorghum (LR) seeds were distributed in a central furrow along the columns, and bioassays were performed to detect imazaquin leaching. The results showed that increasing liming levels resulted in a significantly higher leaching potential of imazaquin in soil columns. Sorghum was more sensitive than lentil as a bioindicator of imazaquin activity.
bioassay
