Weed Kill Experiment Report

WEED KILL REPORT

ABSTRACT -

The objective of this experiment is to determine which of three weed kill methods will be most successful in killing the Cobblers peg weed over a five day period. Two of the weed kill methods are natural - boiling water and vinegar solution. One of the weed kill methods is a weed spray Yates ZERO.

The most effective weed kill was found by examining how fast and effectively each weed kill treatment killed its group of seventeen weeds which were separated into one of three foam boxes over a period of five days. The most successful method was found to be one of the natural methods, boiling water. The next best method was the herbicide and then the least successful method was the vinegar solution which killed none of its weeds.

INTRODUCTION -

My initial observation was that simple conservation actions such as reducing the use of pesticides can achieve measurable improvements in habitat quality and environmental health. Herbicides are toxic to most mammals as well as to the beneficial insects that you want to encourage in your garden. Sometimes herbicides seep into the ground water; causing contamination of which the long term effects are not known. Herbicide application can also result in drift or movement in the soil, this endangers wanted vegetation nearby. Herbicides are used far too rampantly. Excessive use of toxic herbicides is used when not necessary and because most are not aware of the many other natural alternatives. We must find more ways to cut back on the use of chemical herbicides and change to biological weed control methods.

Foreign plants which turn into weeds are continuously being introduced to Australia both accidentally and intentionally. They can cause extreme damage to Australia's environment, as they threaten the survival of many native plants. They are successful in growing as they - usually grow faster than native plants competing for nutrients, water, space etc, they survive better as they do not have the pests and diseases that would normally control them in their natural habitats, they take over the native plants that the native animals use for shelter, food and nesting. The Cobblers peg (Bidens pilosa) also known as farmers friend, Spanish needle and beggars tick was introduced from South America and has become a weed in Australia. Individual flowers are yellow with white petals and do not last for very long, eventually turning into seeds. The weed is extremely successful in spreading due to its cluster of seeds. The seeds are made with two or three barbed awns at the tip. They are called Cobblers 'pegs' as they latch onto clothes and shoes (farmers friend), animals' fur, feathers and water. Cobblers peg thrives in full sun where the soil is relatively infertile. It grows as a weed in vegetables and other crops, pastures, plantations, along roadsides, drainage ditches, railways and wastelands.

Hypothesis - The environmentally friendly weed kill methods, vinegar solution and boiling water, will be able to kill their batch of Cobblers pegs will be just as successful at killing their weeds as the Yates ZERO weed-spray.

METHODS AND MATERIALS -

Materials:

- 3 foam vegetable boxes - A, B, C

- 30 L Bunning's Warehouse potting mix

- 51 cobblers pegs plants (approx 12cm high)

- 1 spray bottle

- 1.7 L boiling water

- 100 ml Yates ZERO weed kill/spray

- 50 ml vinegar

- 50 ml normal water

- gardening gloves

- camera

Method -

Research was done in the library and internet on the damage weeds do to the environment and the different types of herbicides (the damage they cause) and natural home-made weed killers. One herbicide and two natural homemade weed kills were chosen for use in this experiment. The three were boiling water, vinegar solution and Yates ZERO weed spray.

Fifty-one 'cobblers pegs' weeds approx 12cm high were collected from the side of the road. Four foam vegetable boxes with drainage holes were then placed on the lawn in a part sun/shade position. 10L of potting mix was placed into each box. Seventeen Cobblers pegs weeds where planted evenly in rows in each box (three used for the weed kill, and one as a control box). The weeds were watered in and left to settle overnight.

On day one at 9am, 100ml of boiling water was poured onto the crown of each weed in box A. A solution of 50ml vinegar and 50ml water was then sprayed evenly onto the weeds in box B. In box C, 100ml Yates ZERO weed kill was sprayed evenly onto weeds. Box D had left weeds untreated. (This 'control box' is to make sure the weeds weren't going