CONTAMINATION OF SURFACE AND GROUND WATER WITH PESTICIDES APPLIED TO COTTON T. J. Sheets J, R, Bradley, Jr, M, D, Jackson A contribution of the North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, The work upon which this publication is based was supported in part by funds provided by the Office of Water Resources Research, Department of the Interior, through the Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina as authorized under the Water Resources Research Act of 1964, Project No, A-040-NC Agreement No. 14-31 -0001 -3233, FY 1971 April, 1972 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We gratefully acknowledge the following individuals for their contribution to this project. Mr. Warren Bai ley (superintendent, Upper Coastal Pla in Research Station, Rocky Mount, N. C.) and Mr. Wallace Baker (Super i ntendent, Peanut Be1 t Research Station, Lewlston, N, C.) for providIng study sites and assisting in the preparation and maintenance of sl tes, installation of equipment, and sampling. Dr, Larry A, Nelson for advice on statistical methods, Mr, Rick E. Dixon, WE l lie L. Jones, Larry D. Phelps, and Phi lip H. Threatt for assistance in preparation and maintenance of sites, installation of equipment, application of pesticides, and collecting and analyzing samples. Mrs. Billie J. Frazier for her stenographic contribution to the project throughout the period of study. ABSTRACT Of the total trifluralin, toxaphene, or methyl parathion applied to cotton plots, less than 1% was recovered in surface runoff. When DDT was applied alone, an average of 2.83% was present in runoff; whereas only about 1% of the DDT from a combination DDT plus toxaphene treatment was found in runoff, Of the DDT, trifluralin, toxaphene, and methyl parathion recovered in runoff, 96, 84, 75, and 12%, respectively, was associated with the sediment fractions. Residues of trifluralin, DDT, and toxaphene persisted in soil from one season to the next. On a percent basis, trifluralin appeared to be more persistent than DbT and toxaphene. A much greater percentage of trifluralin, DDT, and toxaphene remained as residues in the soil than was found in runoff. A high percentage of the DDP, toxaphene, and methyl parathion was not recovered from runoff and soil. Residues of DDT in water from a small pond within one experimental watershed ranged from <0.35 ppb before spraying to 13.4 ppb during the spraying season. Voxaphene residues in pond water varied from <1 ppb before spraying to 65 ppb about mid seasop. Methyl parathion was detected in pond water for two sampling dates. The highest concentration of trifluralin in pond water (1-61 ppb) occurred during a heavy rain 5 days after application. None of the pesticides were detected in we1 1 water. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Acknowledgments ........................ i Abstract ............................. ii Table of Contents ....................... iii ListofFigures ........................ 1 List of Tables ......................... 2 Summary and Conclusions .................... 6 Recommendations ........................ 10 introduction................. ......... 11 Experimental Procedures .................... 12 Design ........................... 12 Cultural Practices ..................... 15 Sampling .......................... 18 Analytical Methods ..................... 19 Results ............................ 21 Surface Runoff ....................... 21 Soil Residues ....................... 26 Pond Water and Sediment ................... 31 Well Water ......................... 33 Discussion ........................... 33 Li terature C i ted ........................ 42 List of Publications ...................... 45 Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations .............. 45 Appendix ............................ 47 Ll ST OF F l GURES Figure 1. Map of experimental area at the Upper Coastal Plain Research Station near Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Figure 2. Map of experimental area at the Peanut Belt Research Station at Lewiston, North Carolina. Figure 3. Runoff plot showing sheet metal barriers, collection trough, and tank. LIST OF TABLES Table 1. irifluralin (mg and percent of amount applied) in surface runoff from cotton plots after natural rainfall between the time of application In the spring of 1969 and 1970 and the time sampling was discontinued in late fall or winter. Table 2. Residues of DBT and toxaphene (mg and percent of amount applied) in surface runoff collected fran 0.0041-acre cotton plots at Rocky Mount and Lewiston, North Carolina, between the time of the first application in 1969 and the time sampling was discontinued. Table 3, Residues of methyl parathion and toxaphene (mg and percent of amount appl ied) in surface runoff col lected from 0.0041-acre cotton plots at Rocky Mount and Lewiston, North Carolina, between the time of the first application in 1970 and the time sampling was discontinued, Table 4. Residues of trifluralin in the 0 to 6-inch depth of soil from 0,0041-acre cotton plots at Rocky Mount and Lewiston, North Carolina from 1969 to 1971. Table 5. Residues of DDP in the 0 to 6-inch depth of soil from 0.0041-acre cotton plots at Rocky Mount and Lewiston, North Carol ina sprayed 12 times during the 1969 season, Table 6. Residues of toxaphene in the 0 to 6-inch depth of soll from 0.0041-acre cotton plots at Rocky Mount and Lewiston, North Carolina sprayed 12 times during the 1969 season. Table 7, Residues of toxaphene in the 0 to 6-inch depth of soll from 0,0041-acre cotton plots at Rocky Mount and Lewiston, North Carolina sprayed 12 times during the 1970 season, Table 8. Residues of methyl parathion in the 0 to 6-inch depth of soil from 0,0041-acre cotton plots at Rocky Mount and Lewiston, North Carolina sprayed 12 times during the 1970 season. -2- Table 9. Concentrations of DDT, toxaphene, and trifluralin in water from the pond at Rocky Mount before and after the 1969 appli- cations. Table 10. Concentrations of methyl parathion, toxaphepe, and trifluralin in water from the pond at Rocky Mount before and after the 1970 applications, Table 11. Concentrations of BDF, methyl parathion, toxaphene, and trifluralin in sediment from the pond at Rocky Mount before and after the 1969 and 1970 applications. Table 12. Concentrations of methyl parathion, toxaphene, and trifluralin in water from wells located in cotton fields sprayed with the three pesticides during the 1970 season (Rocky Noun t s i te) . Table 13. Concentrations of methyl parathion, toxaphene, and trifluralin in water from wells located in cotton fields sprayed with the three pesticides during the 1970 season (Lewi s ton s i te) . qppendix Table 1. Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of tri- fluralin in runoff during a 5-month period after application of 1 Ib/A at Rocky Mount in 1969. Appendix Table 2. Rainfall, runoff volumes, and amount of triflu- ralin in runoff during a 7-month period after application of 1 lb/A at bewiston in 1969. Appendix Table 3. Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of triflu- ralin in runoff during an 8-month period after application of 1 lb/A at Rocky Mount in 1970. Appendix Table 4. Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of triflu- ralin in runoff during a 6-month period after application of 1 lb/A at Lewiston in 1970. Appendlx Table 5, Ilalnafall, runoff volume, and amount of DQT in runoff (DDT applied alone) during a 3-month period at Rocky Mount after iniriation of the seasonal spray program for insect control, Appendix Table 6, Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of DDT in runoff (DDT appl ied alone) during a 6-month period at Lewi ston after initiation of the seasonal spray program for insect control. Appendix Table 7. Rainfall, runoff volume, a~damount of toxaphene in runoff (toxaphene appl i ed a lone) during a 3-month period at Rocky Mount after initiation of the seasonal spray program for insect control. Appendix Table 8. Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of toxaphene in runoff (tsxaphene applied alone) during a 6-month period at Lewiston after initiation sf the seasonal spray program for insect control. Appendix Table 9, Rainfall, runoff volume, and amounts of DDT and toxaphene in runoff (DDT and toxaphene applied in combination) during a 3-month period at Rocky Mount after initiation of the seasonal spray program for insect control. Appendix Table 10, Rainfall, runoff volume, and amounts of DDT and toxaphene in runoff (DDT and toxaphene applied in combination) during a 6-month period at Lewiston after initiation of the seasonal spray program for insect control. Appendix Table 11. Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of methyl parathion in runoff (methyl parathion applied alone) during a 6-month period at Rocky Mount after initiation of the seasonal spray program for insect control. Appendix Table 12, Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of methyl parathion in runoff (methyl parathion applied alone) during a 4-month period at bewi ston after ini tiation of the seasonal spray program for insect control, -4- Appendix Table 13. Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of toxaphene in runoff (toxaphene applied alone) during a 6-month period at Rocky Mount after initiation of the seasonal spray program for insect control. Appendix Table 14. Rainfall, runoff volume, and amount of toxaphene in runoff (toxaphene applied alone) during a &-month period at Lewi ston after initiation of the seasona 1 spray program for insect control. Appendix Table 15. Rainfall, runoff volume, and amounts of methyl parathion and toxaphene in runoff (methyl parathion and toxaphene applied in combination) during a 6-month period at Rocky Mount after