Ethanol By-Product to Combat Weeds

There’s one plant any gardener has no difficulty in growing: weeds. Farmers and commercial flower growers know all too well that invasive weeds cause trouble by lowering the value and deterring healthy growth of potted ornamental plants. Since most herbicides are not registered for use in greenhouses, growers have limited choices.

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have discovered an ethanol-by product that can be used as a soil amendment to effectively suppress weeds in container-grown ornamentals. Dried distillers grains with solubles or DDGS, when applied to the soil surface after transplanting, prevented the growth of chickweed and annual bluegrass. However, when mixed with the plotting media, DDGS was found to be toxic for some plants. The scientists noted that additional research is needed to identify and confirm the safety of using DDGS to control weeds. DDGS is also being used as a non-petroleum additive in plastic manufacturing.

For more information, read http://ashspress.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/ethanol-byproduct-produces-green-results/ or http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/1/191