Sorption/Desorption, Leaching, and Transport Behavior of Pesticides in Soils: A Review on Recent Advances and Published Scientific Research
Maria C. Vagi, Andreas S. Petsas
Abstract
Pesticides are chemical compounds designed to be used as plant protection products (PPPs). They are applied in the field for the protection of plants against pests, weeds, and several diseases that affect and decrease the quantity and quality of agricultural crop products. After their environmental release, these synthetic substances undergo a variety of abiotic and biotic processes which determine their distribution in the environmental compartments, and consequently their fate and persistence. Sorption, desorption, and leaching are some of the processes that are included among the most important transportation pathways. Due to their extensive application and their potential ecotoxicological effects, the global scientific interest focusing on the research of the environmental fate and behavior of pesticides after their entrance in the environmental matrices is undiminished. The present chapter is a review of the recent scientific literature regarding the recent research on the fate of pesticides in soil regarding the processes of sorption/desorption and leaching. Based on the gathered information derived from the reviewed articles on the subject published in the last 5.5 years (from 01/01/2016 to 30/06/2021), useful conclusions and observations are reported about research trends. Furthermore, knowledge gaps in the current research are highlighted and suggestions for future research on this topic are also discussed.