ABSTRACT
The imidazolinone herbicides are introduced into the environment by application to plants and or soil. Once the compounds are placed in the soil they are subject to a variety of degradation and transport processes. The adsorption properties or desorption properties of the imidazolinones have been studied by many researchers using batch equilibrium techniques. The general conclusion reached by the researchers is that the binding of imidazolinones to soil is generally weak. The aerobic metabolism of the imidazolinones is characterized by a relatively slow, but extensive, degradation. Studies performed by a number of researchers have indicated that both the acid group and the carbons in the ring attached to the acid are mineralized. The anaerobic soil metabolism of imazaquin, imazapyr, and imazethapyr was studied on a variety of soils. There was no significant degradation of any of the compounds over 2 months of incubation, indicating that the imidazolinones are stable to anaerobic degradation.
