Effects of Spherosomes on Degradation of Pretilachlor and Esprocarb in Soil

The fate of pretilachlor and esprocarb in soil with or without spherosomes was investigated for 71 days. The estimated half-lives of pretilachlor in nonsterile soil with and without spherosomes were calculated to be 35.6 and 54.3 days, respectively, while those of esprocarb in nonsterile soil with and without spherosomes were 35.5 and 44.8 days, respectively. The degradation of these pesticides appeared to be essentially due to the biological activity of the soil. Spherosomes should enhance the rate of pretilachlor and esprocarb destruction.