This study was aimed at investigating the relation between microbial activity and soil type with atrazine degradation and dessorption in samples of an Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico (PV) (Ultisol) and a Vertissolo Ebânico Órtico chernossólico (VE) (Mollisol) collected under native grass in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. About 15kg ha-1 of active principle of atrazine were applied to two soil layers with different organic matter contents under 75% of humidity of the water holding capacity. The microbial activity was monitored by the CO2 evolution, and the determination of atrazine in the dessorption extracts in methanol was performed by gas chromatography. The microbial activity was not affected by the herbicide doses being stimulated by the higher organic matter content in both soils. About 70% of the applied atrazine was sorbed on both soil classes. The degradation rates of the labile atrazine were low and were partially affected by the soil carbon content.
sorption; mineralization; degradation; respiration
