rec.gardens.ecosystems homepage -> archive: MOD$011007.18988@rec.gardens.ecosystems



Subject: Re: organic
From: wtmorgan@pilot.msu.edu (Bill Morgan)
Organization: MSU
Date: Sun, 07 Oct 01 14:01:29
Message-ID: <MOD$011007.18988@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$011003.6600@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



In article <MOD$011003.6600@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, "joanna gaunce"
wrote:

> hi
> I'd like to grow vegetables in my garden, but my landlord put down
> weedkiller a year ago.
> will there be residue still left and if so how long should i leave it before
> growing veg??
> thanks
It's hard to say w/o knowing what pesticide you're talking about. Roundup,
which kills almost everything) doesn't turn into much of a problem in terms
of carry-over because it quickly binds to soil particles, and then breaks
down fairly rapidly. Another common herbicide is 2,4-D, which has a
half-life of about a week. Other compounds will of course have different
properties.

Your landlord will probably know what weed-killer was used. Even if you
only get the brand name, you can go to a garden shop to check the label for
the name of the active ingredient. Then, you can go the the EXTOXNET PIPS
(pesticide information profiles) to see what the "fate in the environment"
is (i.e., how long it takes to break down).

Regards,
Bill

"Those who do not learn the lessons of science fiction are condemned to
live them."--William T. Morgan

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