Christina Sarich, Natural Society
Waking Times
Could it soon replace Round Up for good?
Corncob bits instead of chemicals for weed control? Sounds like an interesting, if not slightly odd possibility, doesn’t it?
U.S. Department of Agriculture research agronomist Frank Forcella has been using an air compressor to spray gritty material like corncob bits on both sides of a crop to kill young weeds without harming corn or soybeans. His method utilizing the new technology is gaining attention from organic farmers who don’t use chemicals to control weeds in their fields.
“It obliterates the weed, especially if it’s a small broad-leaved weed like Lamb’s quarters or pigweed that’s one to 3 inches high,” Forcella said. “The corn plants growing next to them are taller and thicker and can withstand the grit blast, but the weeds just disappear.”
