Volatilization of Aldrin from Soil

Volatilization of aldrin from fallow soil as affected by irrigation, rate and method of application was studied under field condition for three consecutive seasons. Both aldrin and dieldrin residues were detected in air. The vapour densities ranged from 0.013 to 1.244 μg/m for aldrin, 0.002 to 0.115 ug/m3 for dieldrin and 0.014 to 1.27 μg/m3 for aldrin-R (aldrin+ dieldrin). The residues were below their threshold limits. Maximum volatilization of aldrin occured during rainy season followed by summer and winter. On an average 19.2% of the applied aldrin was lost in 28 days by volatilization at 10 kg/ha rate of application and 14.6% at 20 kg/ha rate of application. Soil incorporation considerably reduced the volatilization. The volatilization losses from surface-applied treatments were 13.1 to 21.2% of the applied as compared to 6.5 to 19.7% from soil-incorporated treatments. The irrigation of plots considerably increased the volatilization of aldrin from surface- applied as well as soil-incorporated treatments.