How can soils high in organic matter affect the degradation of certain chemicals?
Answer
Binding the chemical tightly, potentially shielding it from microbial attack
Soils rich in organic matter, such as heavy clay, can bind chemicals more securely. While this makes the chemical unavailable to plants, it can also prevent microbes from accessing and degrading the molecule.
Related Questions
What mechanism causes glyphosate to lose its herbicidal effect shortly after entering the soil?Which environmental factor is cited as the single most important driver of chemical breakdown in the soil?How does the persistence of urushiol in soil generally compare to that of widely used broad-spectrum synthetic herbicides?What practical step encourages the breakdown of herbicides like glyphosate by increasing the necessary biological agents?How can soils high in organic matter affect the degradation of certain chemicals?What is often cited as a short-term estimate for the effective presence of glyphosate before sensitive crops can be safely planted?Why must products intended for residual weed control remain active in the upper soil layers?What does it mean when a chemical residue is biologically inert despite being technically present in the soil?How does soil moisture level influence the speed of chemical biodegradation?What is considered the most certain remedy for dealing with a persistent chemical when immediate peace of mind is required?