Effect of the Incorporation of Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar in Leaching and Bioavailability of Clomazone in Soil

Clomazone exhibits high water solubility, low sorption in soil colloids, and therefore can leach and contaminate deep layers of soil profile and groundwater. In this work, the effect of the incorporation of sugarcane bagasse biochar in leaching and bioavailability of clomazone in red latosol was evaluated. Soil samples amended with 1% (m/m) biochar were placed in different depths (0-1, 0-2.5 and 0-5 cm) on the top of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) columns filled with soil. Clomazone-based herbicide was applied, and rainfall was simulated on top of the columns. A validated chromatographic method, together with a greenhouse bioassay, were used to quantify and to evaluate the mobility and availability of clomazone along the columns. The incorporation of sugarcane bagasse biochar in the superficial layers at the column tops increased herbicide sorption, reduced its leaching and bioavailability in soil and scaled down the environmental risk of clomazone avoiding contamination of underground aquifer reservoirs.