Agricultural Pesticide Use Trends in Manitoba and 2,4-D Fate in Soil
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AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE USE TRENDS IN MANITOBA AND 2,4-D FATE IN SOIL BY Janna L. Wilson A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Soil Science University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Copyright © 2012 by Janna Wilson THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES ******* COPYRIGHT PERMISSION AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE USE TRENDS IN MANITOBA AND 2,4-D FATE IN SOIL BY Janna L. Wilson A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Copyright © 2012 by Janna Wilson Permission has been granted to the Library of the University of Manitoba to lend or sell copies of this thesis, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or sell copies of the film, and to the University Microfilms Inc. to publish an abstract of this thesis. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright owner. ABSTRACT Wilson, Janna Leah, Ph.D. The University of Manitoba, October 2012. Agricultural Pesticide Use Trends in Manitoba and 2,4-D Fate in Soil. Major Professor; Annemieke Farenhorst. In the last century, agricultural intensification on the Canadian prairies has resulted in increased pesticide use with the potential to expose non-target organisms to pesticides as a result of non-point source pollution. In order to minimize risk and implement programs and regulations that promote sustainable agricultural practices, information on the types of pesticides being used and their subsequent fate in soils is essential. In this study, pesticide use trends were summarized and Herbicide Risk Indicators (HRIs) were calculated for the 1996-2006 growing seasons; a time period in which genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) crops were commercially adopted. This study also quantified the influence of soil moisture, temperature, slope position, and soil depth within the plough layer on 2,4-D [2,4-(dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid] fate in soil obtained from a cultivated undulating field in Southern Manitoba. Annual pesticide use varied slightly over the 11-year period, but overall, there were no significant increasing or decreasing temporal trends for herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides. Although the total mass of herbicides remained relatively consistent, there was a significant change in the types of herbicides applied associated with the increased adoption of GMHT-canola; the most significant trend being the increase of GLY, from 16% to 45% of the total herbicides used in 1996 to 2006, respectively. HRIs demonstrated that herbicides used in 2006, are on average, more soluble, but less persistent, less volatile, and less acutely toxic iii to mammals (inhalation and acceptable daily intake), aquatic invertebrates, fish and algae, than those applied in 1996. Although 2,4-D remains one of the top 10 herbicides applied to agricultural crops in Manitoba, there were no significant increasing or decreasing trends in 2,4-D use between 1996 and 2006. Results from the experimental studies revealed that 2,4-D mineralization half-lives (DT50) in soil varied from 3 days to 51 days with the total 2,4-D mineralization (MT) ranging from 5.8 to 50.9%, depending on soil moisture, temperature, slope position, and depth. Both DT50 and MT demonstrated a polynomial relationship with temperature, typical of a biological system with minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly, I would like to thank my thesis advisor, Annemieke Farenhorst for providing me with the opportunity and financial support to pursue a Doctoral Degree in the Department of Soil Science. Her persistence is most appreciated. Gratitude also goes to my committee, Dr. Paul Bullock and Dr. Sri Ranjan for their continued support, advice, and willingness to attend committee meetings. Thank you to Dr. Jeff Schoenau for serving as an external examiner, your comments and advice were greatly appreciated. This research project would not have been possible without the financial support of a University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship, which supported me financially for four years. Throughout this journey to complete my Doctoral thesis, I have encountered numerous people in the Department of Soil Science who have provided guidance, support, and assistance in a variety of ways. These people include (but are not limited to): Ross McQueen, Francis Zvomuya, Rob Ellis, Tim Stem, Carl Shaykewich, Brian Amiro, Terry Ramm, Lynda Closson, Jeanette Gaultier, Nurun Nahar, Paula Halibicki, Sheng Li, and many others. The support system in the Department of Soil Science is unparalleled. I would also like to acknowledge the staff, faculty and senior scholars in the Department of Environment and Geography who have supported and encouraged me: Aggie Roberecki, Pat Gutoski, Sam Kirsch, Valerie Smith, Ron Stewart, John Iacozza, Geoffrey Smith, John Brierley, and Ramesh Tiwari, v Special thanks to my invaluable assistants: Elaine Slater, David Cabannes, Lori Morton, and the awe inspiring G.I.S. Guru, Gary Warkentine. In addition, the encouragement and wise council received from John Sinclair was most appreciated. A heartfelt thank you goes to many friends who have supported me along the way: Patricia Fitzpatrick, Lisa Bednar, Carole Hudek, Christina Lengyel and Lisa Christmas (to name a few). On the home front, I would like to express my gratitude to Marla, Lori, and Ernie for their unwavering support. And to Isaac, thank you for giving up our precious time together. This thesis is dedicated to my loving and supportive Mom, June Wilson (1945 – 2008). “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” -Dr. Seuss, The Lorax vi FOREWORD This is a manuscript style thesis prepared in accordance with the Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba guidelines. Following the general introduction (Chapter 1) are four chapters prepared in a stand-alone, manuscript format. The final chapter (Chapter 6, Overall Synthesis) integrates the four data chapters by summarizing the research findings and implications, discusses the research limitations, provides future recommendations, and identifies the contribution of this thesis to knowledge. Versions of Chapters 2 and 3 will be submitted for publication in the near future. A version of Chapter 4 has been published: Shymko, J.L. and Farenhorst, A. 2008. 2,4-D mineralization in unsaturated and near- saturated surface soils of an undulating, cultivated Canadian prairie landscape. J. Environ. Sci. Health Part B 43: 34 – 43. A version of Chapter 5 has been published: Shymko, J.L., Farenhorst, A. and Zvomuya, F. 2011. Polynomial response of 2,4-D mineralization to temperature in soils at varying soil moisture contents, slope positions and depths. J. Environ. Sci. Health Part B 46: 301- 312. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ v FOREWORD .................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ xii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................... xvi 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Global Pesticide Use ............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Pesticide Use ................................................. 3 1.3. Pesticide Risk Assessment .................................................................................... 5 1.4 2,4-D [2,4-(dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid] ........................................................... 6 1.5 2,4-D Properties and Fate in Soil .......................................................................... 9 1.6 Objectives ............................................................................................................. 9 1.7 Hypotheses .......................................................................................................... 10 1.8 Thesis Outline ..................................................................................................... 10 1.9 References ........................................................................................................... 14 2. MANITOBA TRENDS IN AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE USE AS A RESULT OF THE INCREASING ADOPTION TO GENETICALLY MODIFED HERBICIDE-TOLERANT CROPS FROM 1996 – 2006 .................................... 23 2.1 Abstract ............................................................................................................... 23 2.2 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 23 viii 2.3 Materials