Dissipation of pendimethalin in a water-seeded rice field and implications for water management

Water-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) in California is produced near growing urban centers and a variety of neighboring high-value crops, which make water quality a paramount concern because of potential herbicide residue contamination in downstream surface waters. Pendimethalin is a potential herbicide for use in California water-seeded rice. A study was conducted to characterize pendimethalin's dissipation in water of a water-seeded rice field. A capsule suspension (CS), emulsifiable concentrate (EC), and granule (GR) pendimethalin were applied onto flooded rice plots at 1.1, 2.3, and 3.4 kg ai ha⁻¹ rates. Water samples were collected periodically and analyzed with an high pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry system for residues. Pendimethalin dissipation differed across formulations. The initial sampled concentrations recorded values from 3.0 to 125.6 parts per billion (ppb). First-order dissipation resulted in half-lives for the CS from 2.3 to 3.5 days, the EC from 0.6 to 0.7 days, and the GR from 3.5 to 6.9 days. Pendimethalin use in water-seeded rice is at low risk of contaminating downstream surface waters; however, early sampled residue concentrations could be concerning. The results can assist in generating management tactics like water-holding periods to avoid potential downstream off-target effects and ensure herbicidal activity in the applied area after a pendimethalin application in a water-seeded rice field.