Biodegradability of dicamba and 2,4-D in riparian wetland soils

A general review of soils in Virginia counties bordering the Chesapeake Bay reveals that coastal plain soils, especially those most agriculturally productive, are dominantly sandy texture in the subsurface horizon, and have shallow water tables. Considering the high amounts of pesticides used in the coastal plain region and the porous nature of sandy texture soils, there is a great potential for pesticide leaching and subsequent contamination of surface and groundwater sources. This is of great concern because of the potential detrimental effects these agrochemicals represent on aquatic and animal life in the Chesapeake Bay, the largest and most productive estuary in the United States.