Identifying Pathways, Mechanisms, and Mitigation Measures

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DPR scientists have identified two pathways, two mechanisms, and several mitigation measures to stop or prevent contamination of groundwater. The pathways are leaching in coarse-textured soils and runoff in certain soils with hardpan layers or fine-texture. The mechanisms are excess irrigation and rainfall runoff. The associated mitigation measures are efficient irrigation in coarse soil areas, and incorporating preemergent herbicides before rainfall runoff can carry them to structures, such as dry wells, poorly sealed wells or ditches dug below a confining soil layer, that lead to groundwater.

Effect of Irrigation Scheduling on Movement of Pesticides to Ground Water in Coarse Soils. Spurlock, F. 2000. EH 00-01 Abstract, PDF

Develop Holding Pond Mitigation Practices to Prevent Herbicide Movement to the Ground Water. Final Report to DPR. Prichard, D., L. Schwankl, and M. Canevari. 2004. EH 04-03 Abstract, PDF

Effects of agronomic and geologic factors on pesticide movement in soil: comparison of two ground water basins in California. Welling, R., J. Troiano, R. Maykoski and G. Loughner. In Proceedings of the Agricultural Impact on Ground Water - National Water Well Association. pp 666-685. 1986. EH 85-04 Abstract, PDF

Soil Distribution of Simazine, Diazinon and Bromide in Sandy Soil after Exposure to 1985-86 Winter Rain in Fresno County. Troiano, J. and C. Garretson. 1988. EH 88-02 Abstract, PDF

Atrazine and its Relation to Percolation of Water as Influenced by Three Rates and Four Methods of Irrigation Water Application. Troiano, J., C. Garretson, C. Krauter, and J. Brownell. 1990. EH 90-07 Abstract, PDF

Seasonal Rainfall Effects on Pesticide Leaching in Riverside, California. Neal, R., R. Teso, T.Younglove, and D.L. Sheeks III. 1991 EH 91-07 Abstract, PDF

Presence of Bromacil, Diuron, and Simazine in Surface Water Runoff from Agricultural Fields and Non-crop Sites in Tulare County, California. Braun, A.L. and L.S. Hawkins. 1991 PM 91-1 Abstract, PDF

Coarse-textured soils

Pathway - leaching

Most scientific literature has focused on describing how pesticide residues and other agrichemicals, such as nitrates, move with water as it percolates downward and eventually recharges groundwater. Many prospective well sampling studies confirm the ease of residue movement in coarse soils where percolation rates are high and a large amount of water is available for downward movement.

Mechanism - not rainfall in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California

There are two potential sources of water to move pesticide residues downward in soil: rainfall and irrigation. In California, DPR scientists conducted two studies to determine the effect of rainfall on leaching of pesticides. They found that rainfall is insufficient in relatively low rainfall areas to drive residues deep into the soil profile of coarse soils. The results of these studies, conducted in Fresno and Riverside, are available in two reports:

Soil Distribution of Simazine, Diazinon and Bromide in Sandy Soil after Exposure to 1985-86 Winter Rain in Fresno County, PDF. Troiano, J. and C. Garretson. 1988. EH 88-02 Abstract, PDF
Seasonal Rainfall Effects on Pesticide Leaching in Riverside, California, PDF. Neal, R., R. Teso, T. Younglove, and D.L. Sheeks III. 1991. EH 91-07 Abstract, PDF

Mechanism - excess irrigation

Next, DPR scientists tested the effects of irrigation on leaching. They looked at the effects of basin, furrow, sprinkler, and drip irrigation applied at three different rates on pesticide movement in coarse soils. Compared to deficit and efficient irrigation, over-irrigation was found to both move herbicide residues deep in the soil profile and to decrease the amount of pesticides degraded. This reduced degradation increased the amount of residues available for continued movement to groundwater. The following report and journal article document the movement of pesticide residues in relation to the amount of percolating water produced from irrigation.

Atrazine and its Relation to Percolation of Water as Influenced by Three Rates and Four Methods of Irrigation Water Application, PDF. Troiano, J., C. Garretson, C. Krauter, and J. Brownell. 1990. EH 90-07 Abstract, PDF
Influence of Amount and Method of Irrigation Water Application on Leaching of Atrazine, PDF. Troiano, J., C. Garretson, C. Krauter, J. Brownell, and J. Hutson. J. Environ. 1993. Qual. 22: 29-298. Abstract

So in most California agricultural production areas, the principal mechanism of pesticide movement to groundwater in coarse soils is via leaching caused by applying excess irrigation water.

Hardpan and some clay soils

Pathway - not leaching

DPR scientists took deep soil samples in hardpan areas treated with pesticides found in groundwater. In contrast to coarse soil areas, DPR found very little pesticide residue, indicating that leaching was not the primary pathway. The results are reported in the following Proceedings:

Effects of agronomic and geologic factors on pesticide movement in soil: comparison of two ground water basins in California, PDF. Welling, R., J. Troiano, R. Maykoski and G. Loughner. In Proceedings of the Agricultural Impact on Ground Water - National Water Well Association. pp 666-685. 1986. EH 85-04 Abstract, PDF

Pathway and mechanism - runoff and rainfall

In a cooperative study involving DPR, pesticide registrants, and the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner staff, rain runoff entering drainage wells was sampled for herbicides detected in groundwater in hardpan soil conditions. High levels were detected up to 2.5 months following application, indicating that runoff, not leaching, was the principal pathway of movement to groundwater in hardpan areas. These results are documented in the following EM report:

Presence of Bromacil, Diuron, and Simazine in Surface Water Runoff from Agricultural Fields and Non-crop Sites in Tulare County, California, Braun, A.L. and L.S. Hawkins. 1991. PM 91-1 Abstract, PDF

Pathway - not leaching but runoff

In a study conducted in San Joaquin County, investigators found that diuron and hexazinone did not leach in a hardpan soil, but ran off into a drainage pond where water readily leached into shallow groundwater.

Movement of Diuron and Hexazinone In Clay Soil and Infiltrated Pond Water. Prichard, T., J. Troiano, J. Marade, F. Guo, and M. Canevari. J. 2005. Environ. Qual. 34:2005-2017. Abstract

Mitigation measures

In the irrigation studies reported above, DPR documented that efficient irrigation (133% of crop need) significantly decreased the downward movement of pesticides in coarse soils, compared to over-irrigation (185% of crop need), and increased the degradation of herbicide residues. This means that fewer residues were available for continued downward movement.

So in coarse soil areas where leaching is designated as the predominant pathway to groundwater, one of the management practices DPR recommends is to limit the amount of irrigation water to not more than 133% of crop need at each irrigation. This level would provide water for crop needs while also maintaining residues in the upper layers of soil and allow for degradation. This management practice should be followed for a 6-month period following pesticide application. The basis for this 6-month period is detailed in the following report, which is a modeling study of the effect of long-term irrigation management on residue movement to wells situated in a coarse soil:

Effect of Irrigation Scheduling on Movement of Pesticides to Ground Water in Coarse Soils, PDF. Spurlock, F. 2000. EH 00-01 Abstract, PDF

In the San Joaquin County study, investigators found that recycling runoff water out of the drainage pond could limit movement of herbicide residues to groundwater

Develop Holding Pond Mitigation Practices to Prevent Herbicide Movement to the Ground Water. Final Report to DPR. Prichard, D., L. Schwankl, and M. Canevari.y 2004. EH 04-03 Abstract, PDF

In a Fresno County site, the low infiltration rates of these soils made them prone to producing large amounts of runoff water from winter rainfall events. DPR tested a practice to move these residues off the soil surface so that they would be less subject to movement in runoff water. Incorporation of pesticides, especially pre-emergence herbicides, by mechanical or irrigation methods, and not by rainfall, was found to greatly reduce the amount and concentration of a pre-emergent herbicide moving offsite in simulated rain runoff water. These results are detailed in the following journal article:

Movement of Simazine in Runoff Water from Citrus Orchard Row Middles as Affected by Mechanical Incorporation. Troiano, J. and C. Garretson. J. 1998. Environ. Qual. 27: 488-494 Abstract

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