Effect of Long-term Vetch (<i>Vicia villosa</i>) Cover Crop and Tillage System on Fluometuron Dissipation from Surface Soil

Abstract

This research examined the effect of mechanical soil disturbance (none or tilled) and legume crop residues (none or hairy vetch) on fluometuron dissipation for 2 yr from the top 0 to 8 cm of soil in a 10 yr field experiment. Soil pH in the upper 0 to 8 cm was ≤ 5.6, and soil organic matter was highest in plots not-tilled and plots which had a vetch cover crop. Calculated initial half-lives of fluometuron ranged from 19 to 38 d in the 2 yr. Neither tillage nor cover crop influenced early-season fluometuron dissipation. However, there were detectable amounts of fluometuron in all treatments 1 yr after application.