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A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to elucidate the effect of chlorsulfuron herbicide on nitrogen mineralization and the ratio of microbial biomass nitrogen to nitrogen mineralization (Nmic/Nmic ratio) in loamy sand soil. The herbicide was applied at four levels that were control, field rate 0.01 (FR), 10 times of field rate 0.1 (10FR), and 100 times of field rate 1.0 (100FR) μm/g soil. Determinations of N-mineralization and microbial biomass-N content were carried out 1,3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 25 and 45 days after herbicide application. In comparison to untreated soil, the N-mineralization decreased significantly in soil treated with herbicide at levels 10FR and 100FR within the first 5 days incubation. A more considerable reduction in the Nmic/Nmic ratio was observed in the herbicide treated soil than the non-treated control. Among the different treatment of chlorsulfuron, 100FR displayed the greatest biocidal effect followed by 10FR and FR, showing their relative toxicity in the order of 100FR > 10FR > FR. The results indicated that the side effect of this herbicide on N-mineralization is probably of little ecological significance.
