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weeds

12/06/2018 / By Russel Davis

Scientists working to understand the defensive properties of lavender oil, hoping to develop natural pesticides

A team of Canadian researchers at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UCBO) campus are examining the potential of herbs in producing natural pesticides, specifically lavender oils. According to the experts, lavender is known for its strong aroma and its oil is touted for it healing or soothing properties. The scientists have pooled data from a campus research field […]

09/28/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Application of straw mulch increases potato yield

American researchers reported that adding straw mulch to the soil around emerging potatoes increases the size of the individual tubers and the yield of the crop for two different cultivars. They further added that the straw mulch managed broadleaf weeds better than mechanical means of removing the weeds. The study was supported by the University […]

09/21/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Fungal strains found naturally in the soil, including a relative of penicillin, could be an alternative to herbicides

Penicillium molds have been used to ripen cheese and produce the life-saving antibiotic penicillin. Now, a member of the large and common genus of fungi could serve as a natural alternative to synthetic herbicides. The discovery was made by Nigerian researchers from the University of Ilorin, who were looking for local microbes that could reduce the need for chemical weed-killers that polluted the environment […]

09/13/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Organic fertilizers made with moringa promote the healthier growth of wheat

If you’re thinking of planting wheat, try adding some moringa to the mix to help it grow faster and keep weeds at bay, according to a study in Allelopathy Journal. In the study, the researchers investigated extracts from the leaves, flowers, and seeds of the moringa tree (Moringa oleifera), in particular, how they affect the growth […]

09/08/2018 / By Edsel Cook

An edible weed from Uganda shows promise in treating scalp ringworm

African cabbage (Cleome gynandra) is traditionally used by Ugandans to treat the fungal disease scalp ringworm (Tinera capitis). A study confirmed that extracts derived from the edible weed demonstrated potent anti-fungal activities that can neutralize different strains of disease-causing fungi. The experiment was conducted under the auspices of the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. […]

08/18/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Useful way to repurpose invasive weeds: Water hyacinth, an invasive plant to river ecosystems, may prove useful for oil sorption

Those thick clumps of water hyacinth clogging our waterways might be useful for something, after all. A Thai study suggested that the invasive floating plant can be turned into biodegradable adsorption materials that can clean up oil spills better than polypropylene-based sorbents. The findings were published in the International Organization of Scientific Research. Polypropylene is a […]

03/15/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Evaluation of the economic impact and productivity performance of sheep grazing weeds in coffee plantations compared to pastures

A 2017 study published in Agroforestry Systems found that sheep could be utilized as a practical and beneficial method of controlling weeds at coffee plantations. Testing was conducted 40 days before coffee was harvested from a plantation in the municipality of Comapa in Veracruz, Mexico. The researchers used 32 male Pelibuey lambs that they divided […]

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