An analytical method is described for the extraction of metsulfuron-methyl from soil at sub-partsper billion levels (LOQ = 0.2
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g kg
-1). The herbicide was quantitatively determined and identifiedby ESI LC/MS/MS. The method has been applied to a field dissipation study in which metsulfuron-methyl was applied to
spring barley at three dosage rates: 4, 8, and 16 g of active ingredient ha
-1.The results of 2 years are presented. The dissipation rate of metsulfuron-methyl in topsoil wasvery rapid, with a calculated half-life of 6.5 days. Laboratory mineralization studies with nativesoils in contrast to autoclaved soils indicated that microbial degradation of
14C-labeled metsulfuron-methyl and
14C-labeled 2-amino-4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine in soil microcosms is an importantfactor for the complete degradation of metsulfuron-methyl in the field. However, the mineralizationrate of the sulfonamide was much higher.Keywords: Metsulfuron-methyl; triazine amine; ESI LC/MS/MS; field dissipation; microbialdegradation; mineralization