Organic Carbon Content Central Canterbury Organic matter provides the largest number of sites for pesticide sorption in soils.
Organic carbon is a quantitative measure of organic matter.
Areas with high organic carbon tend to retard pesticide movement. This provides added time for the microorganisms in the soil to degrade the pesticides. Areas with low organic carbon values are more prone to pesticide leaching. Organic carbon content has little direct impact upon the leaching of nitrate since nitrate is not adsorbed on it.