The aim of this study was to evaluate herbicide leaching in three soil profiles.Doses of 0.50 and 0.75 kg ha-1 sulfentrazone, 0.113 and 0.169 kg ha-1 isoxaflutole, and 0.72 and 1.08 kg ha-1 oxyfluorfen were applied on the surface of 30 cm high PVC columns filled with the three soil following types: one with a sandy loam texture and two clayey ones with low and high organic matter contents. After applying these herbicides, the columns were submitted to two rounds of 40 mm - simulated rain with a 24h interval between them. Herbicide leaching was detected by bioassay method using sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) plants. Both the activity and movement of the herbicide sulfentrazone in the soil profile increased after application of the highest dose. After application of 0.75 kg ha-1 of sulfentrazone, the highest downward movement was observed in the sandy loam soil, down to 27.5 cm, followed by the clayey soils with low and high organic matter contents, down to 25.0 and 17.5 cm, respectively. A high leaching potential was observed of isoxaflutole, which exceeded 22.5 cm in depth for the three soils and both doses studied. However, oxyfluorfen remained adsorbed in surface layers of soil only. When comparing the types of soil, the highest herbicide activity and movement occurred in the sandy loam soil. Isoxaflutole presented greater mobility than sulfentrazone, while oxyfluorfen showed low leaching potential.
bioassay; environmental impact; herbicide; mobility
