Australia trials non-toxic, chemical-free weed control

Sydney [Australia], May 13: Australian growers are to trial an environmentally friendly method of weed control, which could potentially transform the way growers manage pests in crops, Melbourne-based La Trobe University said on Tuesday.
The five-year research project, with the cost of 4.74 million Australian dollar (3.02 million-U.S. dollar), will explore the use of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD), a chemical-free technique already proving effective in the United States and Europe, and could reshape the Australian horticulture, according to a press release from the university.
ASD works by applying organic carbon sources, moisture, and plastic mulch to create oxygen-deprived conditions in the soil.
This environment suppresses weeds and soil-borne diseases without relying on harmful fumigants. Once treated, the soil returns to a healthy aerobic state, enhancing harvest quantity and quality, the release said.
Project lead Ali Bajwa, senior lecturer in Weed Science and Agronomy at La Trobe, said ASD presents a sustainable, low-cost alternative as more chemical herbicides are phased out due to environmental concerns.
The new method allows growers to control pests without damaging the environment, while also making use of agricultural byproducts like chicken manure, rice bran and sugarcane molasses, Bajwa said, adding field trials will focus on crops grown under plastic mulch, such as strawberries, capsicums and melons, in Australia's Victoria and the Northern Territory.
The project includes collaboration with Clemson University in the U.S. state of South Carolina where ASD has significantly reduced weed and disease pressure in crops.
Araz Solomon, research and development manager at Australia's Hort Innovation, one of the funders, said the project is part of a broader initiative to provide science-driven, sustainable weed management solutions.
Source: Xinhua