Long‐term vinasse application enhanced the initial dissipation of atrazine and ametryn in a sugarcane field in Tucumán, Argentina.

This article focuses on the effects of long-term vinasse application—a byproduct of sugarcane bioethanol production—on soil properties and the dissipation of the herbicides atrazine and ametryn in a subtropical sugarcane agroecosystem in Tucumán, Argentina. The study found that vinasse treatment increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, and soil organic carbon, which corresponded with a faster initial dissipation of both herbicides by 45% (atrazine) and 33% (ametryn) within the first seven days after application compared to conventional fertilization. Modeling with the Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM5) indicated that this enhanced dissipation was primarily due to increased degradation rather than transport processes. While vinasse reuse may reduce potential groundwater contamination by these triazine herbicides, it could also diminish their bioavailability and effectiveness for weed control, suggesting a need to adapt herbicide management practices in sugarcane cultivation areas using vinasse.