Biodegradation of imidacloprid in sandy loam soil by Bacillus aerophilus

A study of the biodegradation of imidacloprid in soil was carried out under laboratory conditions. Sandy soil samples were fortified with imidacloprid at 50, 100 and 150mgkg(-1) along with 45x10(7) colony forming units (cfus) of Bacillus aerophilus and the samples were compared with unamended soil. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned up by treatment with primary secondary amine sorbent and graphitised carbon black. The residues of imidacloprid and its metabolites were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. The parent compound, imidacloprid, was found to be more persistent in both the treatments. Among metabolites, the highest values were obtained for urea and olefin while 5-hydroxy, 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CNA), nitrosimine and nitroguanidine (NTG) were also observed in all the treatments in amended soil. In case of unamended (control) soil, 6-CNA was found to be the most persistent metabolite followed by olefin, urea, 5-hydroxy, nitrosimine and NTG metabolites. Total imidacloprid residues for control soil samples followed first-order kinetics at 50 and 150mgkg(-1) but in case of control imidacloprid fortified at 100mgkg(-1), the total residues of imidacloprid and its metabolites followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The respective half-life value for 50mgkg(-1) was 25.08days and 30.10days for both 100 and 150mgkg(-1). However, total imidacloprid residues followed pseudo-first-order kinetics for its applications at 50, 100 and 150mgkg(-1) in sandy loam soil amended with B. aerophilus. The half-life values for 50, 100 and 150mgkg(-1) were worked out to be 14.33, 15.05 and 18.81days, respectively. With the use of B. aerophilus, the reduction percentage of initial applied dose imidacloprid in sandy loam soil was found to be higher in all the three doses as compared to that of the control samples.