Triazine herbicides such as simazine [6-chloro-N,N'-diethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine] are subject to higher mobility in alkaline, sandy soils commonly associated with coastal turfgrass systems. Organic matter is the most important soil constituent influencing pesticide sorption by soils. Bermudagrass is a perennial crop with a constant deposition of organic material creating a soil system that can change drastically with time. These changes in soil physicochemical characteristics could affect the environmental fate of pesticides applied to turfgrass systems. Therefore, sorption and degradation characteristics of UL-ring-labeled ¹⁴C-simazine were determined in soils from a 10 year-old bermudagrass system and adjacent bareground area. Surface soil (0-5 cm) and subsoil (5-15 cm) from both systems were air-dried and passed through a 4-mm sieve. Using a batch-equilibrium method, adsorption isotherms were determined for each soil. Data were fit to the Freundlich equation and K_d (distribution coefficient) values were determined. In addition, degradation of simazine in soils was monitored for four months, using sterile and nonsterile soil microcosms. A factorial design with soil treatments (sterile and non-sterile), soil depths (0-5 and 5-15 cm), and soil system (bermudagrass and bareground) as variables was employed. Sorption was greatest on the surface soil from the bermudagrass soil system and lowest in the subsoil from the bareground system. Sorption decreased as soil depth increased in both systems. Degradation results show that ¹⁴CO₂ evolution was highest in the subsoil of the turfgrass system, indicating higher simazine bioavailability contribute greatly to its increased microbial degradation. These results indicate leaching potential and bioavailability of simazine is greater in bareground soil and increases with depth in both systems.