BACKGROUND: Dissipation of herbicides in paddy water varies significantly, being dependent on environmental conditions such as sunlight. The photodegradation under natural sunlight may be one of natural degradation routes of herbicides dissipation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the degradation of butachlor and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in paddy water under natural sunlight. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 12 water sample bottles of treatment were covered by quart glass plates, which allow about 90% of UV radiation (280-2000 nm) to pass through, to minimize the UV attenuation. The other 12 water sample bottles of the control were covered by glass lids and wrapped with aluminum foils to prevent the sunlight. The concentration of butachlor and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in paddy water samples bottles was monitored under ambient conditions with and without natural sunlight. The concentration of butachlor and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl for treatment decreased from $355.3{mu}g/L$ to $37.8{mu}g/L$ and from $10.5{mu}g/L$ to $3.9{mu}g/L$, respectively, during consecutive 21 days after herbicide application under natural sunlight. CONCLUSION: The concentration of butachlor in paddy water decreased quickly under ambient conditions with natural sunlight. The degradation of butachlor in paddy water was enhanced by the natural sunlight. However, the degradation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl was insignificant under natural sunlight.