Metribuzin microbial degradation

Metribuzin is adsorbed strongly in the soil, mainly by the humic acids (Schmidt and Hoyer, 197S). It decomposes in the soil mainly via microbial degradation. The primer metabolite is deaminated diketo derivative (2), the final product is carbon-dioxide (Schumacher, 1974). Metribuzin is nonpersistent. Its half-life depends much on the climatic condition, optimally it is 14-28 days (Hyzak and Zimdahl, 1974). 

Several processes may play a role in the environmental dissipation of -triazine herbicides. Dissipation processes can include microbial or chemical degradation in soil metabolism or conjugation in plants photodegradation in air, water, and on soil and plant surfaces and volatilization and transport mechanisms. This chapter will address photolytic degradation and abiotic hydrolysis of the currently used triazine herbicides, the triazinone herbicides (metribuzin and metamitron), and the triazinedione herbicide hexazinone. 

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