Persistence of 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, and Dicamba in Range Forage Grasses

Abstract
The herbicides 2,4-dichloro-phenoxylacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxylacetic acid (2,4,5-T), and 2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid (dicamba) each labeled in the carboxyl position were sprayed on a pasture consisting of a mixture of silver beardgrass (Andropogon saccharoides Swartz.), little bluestem (A. scoparius Michx.), and dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.) and" a sideoata grama (Bouteloua curtipendula [Michx. ] Torr.) pasture over a 3-year period. Plant samples were harvested at intervals between 1 hr. and 16 weeks after treatment and residues determined by radioassay. No important differences were found in the persistence of herbicides or of different formulations of the same herbicide. Rainfall was the most important factor influencing the persistence of the herbicides. The little bluestem-silver beard-grass-dallisgrass samples harvested 1 hr. after treatment with the butoxyethyl ester of 2,4,5-T contained both this ester and the acid of 2,4,5-T. One week after treatment, the acid of 2,4,5-T and unknown metabolites were found but no ester.