Adsorption-desorption and hysteresis phenomenon of tebuconazole in Colombian agricultural soils: Experimental assays and mathematical approaches

The adsorption-desorption, hysteresis phenomenon, and leachability of tebuconazole were studied for Inceptisol and Histosol soils at the surface (0–10 cm) and in the subsurface (40–50 cm) of an agricultural region from Colombia by the batch-equilibrium method and mathematical approaches. The experimental Kfa and Kd (L kg−1) values (7.9–289.2) decreased with depth for the two Inceptisols and increased with depth for the Histosol due to the organic carbon content, aryl and carbonyl carbon types. Single-point and desorption isotherms depended on adsorption reversibility and suggested that tebuconazole showed hysteresis; which can be adequately evaluated with the single-point desorption isotherm and the linear model using the hysteresis index HI. The most suitable mathematical approach to estimate the adsorption isotherms of tebuconazole at the surface and in the subsurface was that considering the combination of the n-octanol-water partition coefficient, pesticide solubility, and the mass-balance concept. Tebuconazole had similar moderate mobility potential as compared with the values of other studies conducted in temperate amended and unamended soils, but the risk of the fungicide to pollute groundwater sources increased when the pesticide reached subsurface soil layers, particularly in the Inceptisols. •Fungicide retention parameters in tropical soils are presented for the first time.•The irreversibility in soils can be adequately evaluated with the hysteresis index.•The tebuconazole risk of reaching groundwater is higher in the Inceptisol.•A novel mathematical approach to estimate adsorption isotherms is proposed.