Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange
Abstract
Chlorsulfuron, sulfometuron methyl and metsulfuron methyl are new herbicides. They are effective in controlling weeds in different areas. Generally, they are applied at very low levels. Their decomposition rates vary with soil moisture, pH, etc. Since they may be used year after year and their decomposition rates are not very rapid in this climate, the persistence can be a problem with herbicide carryover harming crops in the following years. Therefore, there is a need for a method to measure very low levels of these herbicides in soil and water to ensure that the quantities which might be present are not sufficiently large to be injurious to agricultural crops. The objective of my thesis research was to develop a method to determine herbicides chlorsulfuron, sulfometuron methyl and metsulfuron methyl in soil and water and estimate the detection limits with the instruments available in this school. Much of my work involved efforts to improve detection levels, and this involved a study of a number of extractions, cleanup and chromatography methods
