Degradation of Pendimethalin and Anilofos by Enrichment Cultures from Different Soils

Enrichment culture obtained from six different soils after repeated application of pendimethalin and anilofos caused rapid biodegradation of pendimethalin and anilophos in mineral salt medium. The enrichment culture obtained from Alfisol-2 was least effective in enhancing anilofos degradation (62.4% in 45 d), while cultures obtained from Inceptisol degraded 82.8% during the same period. The enrichment culture obtained from all six soils were able to degrade pendimethalin (97.3 to 99.8% in 45 d). The degradation in sterilized culture and uninoculated control was minimal. The half-life values calculated for pendimethalin and anilofos were in the range of 11.2–19.8 and 40.8–77.0 d, for different inoculated treatments, respectively.