Articles | Volume 29, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4179-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4179-2025
Research article
 | 
09 Sep 2025
Research article |  | 09 Sep 2025

Constraining topsoil pesticide degradation in a conceptual distributed catchment model with compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA)

Sylvain Payraudeau, Pablo Alvarez-Zaldivar, Paul van Dijk, and Gwenaël Imfeld

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How combining multi-scale monitoring and compound-specific isotope analysis helps to evaluate degradation of the herbicide S-metolachlor in agro-ecosystems?
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This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
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Cited articles

Ahuja, L. and Lehman, O.: The extent and nature of rainfall-soil interaction in the release of soluble chemicals to runoff, J. Environ. Qual., 12, 34–40, https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1983.00472425001200010005x, 1983. 
Alvarez-Zaldivar, P., Centler, F., Maier, U., Thullner, M., and Imfeld, G.: Biogeochemical modelling of in situ biodegradation and stable isotope fractionation of intermediate chloroethenes in a horizontal subsurface flow wetland, Ecol. Eng., 90, 170–179, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.01.037, 2016. 
Alvarez-Zaldivar, P., Payraudeau, S., Meite, F., Masbou, J., and Imfeld, G.: Pesticide degradation and export losses at the catchment scale: Insights from compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA), Water Res., 139, 198–207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.061, 2018. 
Ammann, L., Doppler, T., Stamm, C., Reichert, P., and Fenicia, F.: Characterizing fast herbicide transport in a small agricultural catchment with conceptual models, J. Hydrol., 586, 124812, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124812, 2020. 
Antelmi, M., Mazzon, P., Hohener, P., Marchesi, M., and Alberti, L.: Evaluation of MNA in A Chlorinated Solvents-Contaminated Aquifer Using Reactive Transport Modeling Coupled with Isotopic Fractionation Analysis, Water-Sui., 13, 2945, https://doi.org/10.3390/w13212945, 2021. 
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Our study focuses on the rising concern of pesticides damaging aquatic ecosystems, which puts drinking water, the environment, and human health at risk. We provided more accurate estimates of how pesticides break down and spread in small water systems, helping to improve pesticide management practices. Using unique chemical markers in our analysis, we enhanced the accuracy of our predictions, offering important insights for better protection of water sources and natural ecosystems.
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