Hi Merla,
I'm beyond whether the herbicide damages microbes. I think the
system in use is fundamentally flawed. Every time I've seen the
word 'integrated' used in control programs, it has been an attempt
to bridge -icides back into the picture when the organic wackos got
a little too much influence. In my organic wacko opinion, herbicide
(and the cocktail y'all are using is a real doozy) is always the
wrong choice for controlling weeds in basically a pasture. Read the
warnings on the side of the bag and ask yourself if you would want
to spray that stuff on your skin. Then ask the earthworms the same
question. Are you starting to see the flaws?
I guess I disagree with your three principles and where you think
they are taking you.
1. "Nature does not allow bare soils to exist."
It might work that way in Idaho, but not everywhere. Nature might
try to cover bare ground, but there is a lot of naturally occurring
bare ground even She can't get things to grow on.
2. "Bare soils are re-vegetated by successions of plant groups
until a 'Most fit' community of plants develops on the site."
Unfortunately the absence of fertility can lead you to ugly, high
maintenance stuff growing in the bare spots. If that is what you
want, then you're on your way.
3. "Disturbance of the vegetative cover reverses the succession of
re-vegetation back to the bare soil starting point."
Huh? What is a disturbance? Animal "disturbance" through the field
is what causes succession, not reverses it. In fact...
...one model that does work for reclaiming seemingly depleted land
is to return livestock to the area. By reclaiming I mean that an
area choked with weeds and brambles can return to weed resistant
grass and legume canopy in a few seasons. True fertility returns to
the soil as the animals return successively to eat the grass and
deposit manure. Once the fertility returns, grass and legume
succession will last for a decade without the animals if left
undisturbed by insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, grubicide, or
miticide.
I realize we think we can't have animals trying to forage right next
to busy roads, but here's a wild idea. Certainly busy roads have
road crews working on the side every so often. With today's dirt
cheap electric fence and solar chargers, why not run an animal road
crew next to the road - complete with explanatory signs and
protective orange cones. Run a 6-wire temporary electric fence
alongside the road with goats, sheep, and cattle inside. If you mob
them up, you can be out of there in 8 hours or less. Follow up with
a mob of chickens (in bottomless cages) to dig through the manure,
spread it out, and eat the fly and parasite eggs. Then follow the
chickens with a sprinkling of sawdust to cover the manure smell,
balance the C:N ratio, and start the composting process. If you can
do that, then you stop paying for herbicide and mowers and you're
left with beef, lamb, cabrito, eggs, and broilers to sell or eat.
The entire system runs on solar energy, not petro energy.
I realize I did not address your concern with herbicide. I
just think that's small potatoes (little Idaho pun) compared to the
bigger picture.
David Hall
San Antonio, TX
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Herb and Merla Barberie
<herbnmerla_at_s...> wrote:
> In Weed Committee discussions here in Bonner County, Idaho, a
member of
> the Committee has stated that he has read research that states that
> herbicide does not kill mycorrhizal fungi. I need research papers
and
> personal communication from a microbiologist(s) that herbicide (We
use
> "Curtail" (2,4-D & Clopyralid) and Triclopyr.) does kill soil
> microoganisms.
>
> I will be presenting implementation documents and goals from the
Iowa
> Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management program..."IRVM was
started
> in Black Hawk County in 1985 as a new concept used on county rural
> roadsides. IRVM integrates native vegetation with appropriate
> management techniques to produce a roadside that is resistant to
weed
> invasion and soil erosion, yet requires little or no
> maintenance."..."There are three principles which govern the
management
> of natural, perennial vegetation: 1) Nature does not allow bare
soils
> to exist. 2) Bare soils are revegetated by successions of plant
grops
> till a "Most fit" community of plants develops on the site. 3)
> Disturbance of the vegetative cover reverses the succession of
> revegetation back to the bare soil starting point."..."Success
demands a
> change in the philosophy guiding the management of roadside
vegetation
> from one of weed eradication to weed prevention. This
necessitates the
> protection and husbandry of existing, perennial, herbacveous
> vegetation." This program does use herbicide, but they have
gotten it
> down to spot spraying and they stress the importance of mechanical
brush
> removal instead of raising the nozzle. I'm trying to find a middle
> ground here between our Rapid Lightning Project and the county's
blanket
> herbicide spraying for weeds and brush control. They're even
talking
> about putting a clause in the ag and timber tax exemption to
remove the
> exemption if the property has weeds. This is going to cause a big
> uproar about invasion of privacy and if passed would greatly
impact the
> certified organic small farmers market growers who operate on a
> shoestring.
>
> Bonner County does not reseed soil they disturb on the roadside
when
> they reditch the roads and other maintenance activities. I'm at
least
> trying to get them to do that. The Iowa program stresses the
planting
> of native grasses and forbs and states that herbicide application
> weakens grass stands. (Doesn't mention anything about killing
> microorganisms which I think is the key to having strong turf
stands.)
> Anything anybody has on this that I could use would be appreciated.
>
> Best,
>
> Merla Barberie
> Member: Bonner County Noxious Weed Advisory Committee
> Leader: Rapid Lightning Non-Chemical Weed Control Project
> Sandpoint, Idaho
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Received on Mon Dec 08 2003 - 10:46:35 EST