Mustard is safer, more economical than chemical fumigants

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from PANUPS

 

Mustard is safer, more economical than chemical fumigants

January 04, 2007

 

Mustard proves good alternative to fumigant pesticides: Farmers in Idaho,

including many leasing land from the Shoshone-Bannock tribes, are using a crop

rotation of mustard as a less toxic and less expensive alternative to chemical

fumigants in potato production. According to Capital Press " Mustard is planted

after a wheat harvest in August or September. Fields spring to life with the

green and yellow crop in two to three weeks. It is incorporated back into the

soil after six weeks of growth. " According to PANNA chemist Dr. Susan Kegley,

" Mustard plants produce small amounts of MITC, the same active fumigant that is

produced when metam sodium reacts with water. Unlike synthetic MITC, the mustard

plant produces very small amounts of this chemical in the soil over the entire

growing season, rather than in one high-dose treatment, so the levels emitted

are very small, and therefore pose less toxic risk than with chemical-based

farming methods. " Ecologist Dr. Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, another PANNA senior

scientist, adds: " As we transition away from chemical farming, biological

methods that reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides and improve soil quality is

a step in the right direction. " Mustard is proving especially effective on

curbing nematodes and " early die " in potatoes. The crop also helps hold soil in

place, and plowing in this green manure enhances soil percolation

[Guest guest]

When I was a kid farmers in the UK rotated crops with mustard. You hardly

ever see it now.

 

Jo

 

-

" fraggle " <EBbrewpunx

" vegan chat " ; " GardeningOrganically "

<GardeningOrganically >; " TFHB " <TFHB >

Friday, January 05, 2007 4:44 PM

Mustard is safer, more economical than chemical

fumigants

 

 

> from PANUPS

>

> Mustard is safer, more economical than chemical fumigants

> January 04, 2007

>

> Mustard proves good alternative to fumigant pesticides: Farmers in Idaho,

including many leasing land from the Shoshone-Bannock tribes, are using a

crop rotation of mustard as a less toxic and less expensive alternative to

chemical fumigants in potato production. According to Capital Press " Mustard

is planted after a wheat harvest in August or September. Fields spring to

life with the green and yellow crop in two to three weeks. It is

incorporated back into the soil after six weeks of growth. " According to

PANNA chemist Dr. Susan Kegley, " Mustard plants produce small amounts of

MITC, the same active fumigant that is produced when metam sodium reacts

with water. Unlike synthetic MITC, the mustard plant produces very small

amounts of this chemical in the soil over the entire growing season, rather

than in one high-dose treatment, so the levels emitted are very small, and

therefore pose less toxic risk than with chemical-based farming methods. "

Ecologist Dr. Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, another PANNA senior scientist, adds:

" As we transition away from chemical farming, biological methods that reduce

reliance on synthetic pesticides and improve soil quality is a step in the

right direction. " Mustard is proving especially effective on curbing

nematodes and " early die " in potatoes. The crop also helps hold soil in

place, and plowing in this green manure enhances soil percolation

>

>

>

> To send an email to -

>

[Guest guest]

its all about the chemicals

 

 

>jo <jo.heartwork

>Jan 5, 2007 9:59 AM

>

>Re: Mustard is safer, more economical than chemical

fumigants

>

>When I was a kid farmers in the UK rotated crops with mustard. You hardly

>ever see it now.

>

>Jo

>

>-

> " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx

> " vegan chat " ; " GardeningOrganically "

><GardeningOrganically >; " TFHB " <TFHB >

>Friday, January 05, 2007 4:44 PM

> Mustard is safer, more economical than chemical

>fumigants

>

>

>> from PANUPS

>>

>> Mustard is safer, more economical than chemical fumigants

>> January 04, 2007

>>

>> Mustard proves good alternative to fumigant pesticides: Farmers in Idaho,

>including many leasing land from the Shoshone-Bannock tribes, are using a

>crop rotation of mustard as a less toxic and less expensive alternative to

>chemical fumigants in potato production. According to Capital Press " Mustard

>is planted after a wheat harvest in August or September. Fields spring to

>life with the green and yellow crop in two to three weeks. It is

>incorporated back into the soil after six weeks of growth. " According to

>PANNA chemist Dr. Susan Kegley, " Mustard plants produce small amounts of

>MITC, the same active fumigant that is produced when metam sodium reacts

>with water. Unlike synthetic MITC, the mustard plant produces very small

>amounts of this chemical in the soil over the entire growing season, rather

>than in one high-dose treatment, so the levels emitted are very small, and

>therefore pose less toxic risk than with chemical-based farming methods. "

>Ecologist Dr. Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, another PANNA senior scientist, adds:

> " As we transition away from chemical farming, biological methods that reduce

>reliance on synthetic pesticides and improve soil quality is a step in the

>right direction. " Mustard is proving especially effective on curbing

>nematodes and " early die " in potatoes. The crop also helps hold soil in

>place, and plowing in this green manure enhances soil percolation

>>

>>

>>

>> To send an email to -

>>