Site studies to determine the extent and potential impact of herbicide contamination in Kansas waters

deNoyelles, F, Jr; Kettle, WD

HERO ID

11144276

Reference Type

Technical Report

Year

1983

Language

English

HERO ID 11144276
Year 1983
Title Site studies to determine the extent and potential impact of herbicide contamination in Kansas waters
Authors deNoyelles, F, Jr; Kettle, WD
Publisher Text The Kansas Water Resources Research Institute at The University of Kansas
City Lawrence, KS
Abstract The triazine herbicides have accounted for nearly one third of the total herbicide usage in Kansas in recent years. It is well known that these herbicides are entering aquatic habitats in Kansas and throughout the Midwest, yet little is known of their effects on the freshwater organizms residing there. This study was undertaken to accumulate data on triazine herbicide concentrations in State waters and to determine the biological impact of the triazines on phytoplankton and macrophyte communitites at those sites. To develop baseline data on the biological effects of triazine herbicides, experimental ponds were treated with different levels of atrazine herbicide under highly controlled situations. Atrazine was chosen to represent the triazines because of its physiological effects on a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic plants and because it is the single most heavily used pesticide plankton quickly developed which were more resistant to atrazine. Macrophytic vegetation was significantly inhibited in treated ponds. The next phase of the study involved sampling numerous aquatic habitats throughout the State to (1) analyze the concentrations of triazine herbicides (atrazine, cyanazine, metribuzin, and simazine) and to (2) determine if the macrophyte and phytoplankton communities at these sites had been altered by exposure to triazine herbicides. Triazines were detected at many sites and many of those sites were also found to contain phytoplankton communities possessing a degree of resistance to atrazine. Reductions in macrophyte communities were noted in those waters receiving direct runoff from agricultural fields.
Report Number NR 476436-08
Url https://biosurvey.ku.edu/pub/site-studies-determine-extent-and-potential-impact-herbicide-contamination-kansas-waters
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Number Of Pages 43
Is Public Yes
Language Text English