Field studies were conducted to determine the effect of season of the year, sunlight exposure time, and mulch color on paraquat photodegradation rate on polyethylene mulch. Experiments were established in winter, spring, and summer, with white and black polyethylene mulch, and paraquat-applied films were exposed to sunlight for 1, 4, 8, 24, 30, 48, 72, or 96 h after herbicide application. There was significant effect of the season by mulch color by time of exposure interaction on paraquat concentration recovered from mulch eluants. Winter paraquat photodegradation was lower than during the other seasons. At 48 h of sunlight exposure, predicted photodegradation on white mulch was 67, 83, and 88%, during winter, spring, and summer, respectively, whereas these values were 66, 82, and 84% on black mulch. The difference in paraquat photodegradation in winter with respect to the other seasons may be attributed to reduced ultraviolet radiation in winter, when solar radiation has to penetrate a larger atmosphere mass. In practical terms, transplanting on paraquat-applied mulch requires a minimum of 96 h during the spring and summer seasons, when concentrations were 5% or less, whereas a longer waiting period might be necessary in the winter.

Nomenclature: Paraquat; tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

Additional index words: Tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, herbicide breakdown, ultraviolet radiation.