Dissipation of racemic mecoprop and dichlorprop and their pure R-enantiomers in three calcareous soils with and without peat addition

Two racemic herbicides, mecoprop (R,S-MCPP) and dichlorprop (R,S-DCPP), as well as their enantiopure R-forms, were incubated in three calcareous soils at 15 degrees C and 80% of their field capacity to try to elucidate their behaviour in soil and compare the dissipation rates when racemic and enantiopure compounds are used. Quantitation of pesticides is made by HPLC and the R/S ratio by GC-MS. The inactive S-enantiomer from the racemic forms persists longer than the R-forms in silt and sandy loam soils, but for shorter time in the clay loam soil. The pure R-enantiomers, both for MCPP and DCPP, after incubation in soil, are partially converted into their S-forms. In all cases, the dissipation of racemic and pure enatiomeric forms is lower in the clay loam soil than in the silt and sandy loam soils. The R-forms' peristence, in the three soils, is approximately two times lower when they are incubated alone than when they are incubated as racemic compounds. When peat is added, the persistence of these herbicides in the silt and sandy loam soils increases, while in the clay loam soil it decreases. Besides, in the clay loam soil, the enantiomeric ratio (ER) changes from its S-preferential degradation to a preferential degradation of its R-form, so an increase in the persistence of the inactive S-form occurs.