Tebuthiuron can stay active in the soil for 3 years or longer. Tebuthiuron is adsorbed more easily by soils with high organic matter and clay content. Tebuthiuron has an average half-life of 12 to 15 months in the soil. In areas with low rainfall, the half-life can be much longer. In muck soils and soils with high organic matter, tebuthiuron also has a much longer half-life.
Microorganisms metabolize or break down tebuthiuron in the soil.
Plants absorb tebuthiuron from the soil and metabolize it. Products formed by the break-down of tebuthiuron by soil microorganisms are low in toxicity. The break-down products are found in low concentrations, and therefore should not be a hazard to the environment. Tebuthiuron is moderately mobile in soils. It can slowly leach or seep through some soils, and can pollute ground-water.