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Glyphosate use is being called into question by public opinion, environmental and legislative changes. Herbicide-free methods of weed control are available for those who want to move to glyphosate alternatives.
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in most herbicides, in products such as Roundup, one of the most widely used glyphosate-based weed killers. Used around the world to kill weeds and other unwanted vegetation, and as a non-selective chemical, glyphosate will kill most plants. Along with other ingredients, glyphosate-based herbicides prevent weeds from synthesizing proteins – a process that subsequently causes them to die.
Concerns surrounding the use of glyphosate have been circulating for a number of years, so it’s no surprise that more people are looking for alternatives. Councils and contractors are now looking for a safe and environmentally friendly alternative, and many countries have pledged to phase out the use of glyphosate altogether.
There are a number of other limitations to glyphosate, in addition to the concerns about glyphosate’s impact on human health. Glyphosate based products that are applied to rural or urban areas and are subsequently washed by the rain into groundwater, streams, rivers and coastal waters. Herbicide spray can be blown in high winds from treated areas onto field margins and wildlife habitats. Animals who come in direct contact with vegetation treated with glyphosate products can also have a wide range of adverse effects.
This method is time consuming and costly, and is very labour intensive to the operator. A Foamstream operator can cover ground at a much quicker rate than manual weeding, meaning that overall big savings can be made on labour costs.
This type of weed control is weather dependent and restricting as to when and where it can be used. The main concern surrounding the use of flame weeding is health and safety: due to the naked flame, there is a risk of fire. Plants with oily and waxy surfaces can be prone to catching fire and then spreading causing damage to the surrounding areas. In the worst case scenario, it can cause harm to the user or animals in the area.
The downfall of this method of weed control is that when the hot water is applied to the plant, the atmosphere impacts the temperature of the hot water, causing rapid heat loss. This is evident by the visible steam which occurs when treating with hot water. The loss of heat means that the plant isn’t kept in the kill zone for an extended period of time. As a result regrowth occurs sooner, contributing to a higher treatment rate over the course of the season.
Otherwise known as weed whacking, this is ineffective as a long term option. This is due to disturbing the seedbed and spreading seeds and spores, increasing overall weed coverage and causing rapid weed growth over a wider area. This means that there needs to be a higher amount of treatments per year, ending up being more costly.
Using the combination of our patented foam and hot water, Foamstream is more labour and cost-effective than other alternatives.
It can also be used in any weather, and on any surface.