Glyphosate Warning!

Glyphosate Warning!

Glyphosate ties up minerals like crazy – Use With Caution!

 

According to Don Huber, Agronomist & Professor Emeritus, Purdue University, Glyphosate/Roundup® is worse than DDT. It persists in the soil for at least two years and has deleterious effects on soils and plants.  An application cuts Manganese (Mn) availability by half as well as cutting the availability of Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn), and other minerals such as Phosphorus (P).  The second application of Roundup® cuts Mn availability by another half.

 

Roundup breaks down Mn and enzymes that keep trees resistant to diseases such as Phythothera (that causes “Foot Rot” in citrus), Pythium, and other diseases that kill trees.  Roundup® doesn’t kill trees directly; it is caused indirectly by the low level of protective minerals like Mn that ordinarily keep a tree’s protective defenses strong and directly by disease pathogens.

 

Putting more minerals on the soil only makes it worse. Apply Phosphorus and trace minerals by foliar application if Roundup® has been used as a herbicide in the grove, orchard, or field.  If Roundup is used for weed control in a crop, never use it more than once per year.  Horticulturist Bill McKibben, Ohio State graduate and Advisor to Logan Labs with 30 years of experience suggests using only alternatives to Glyphosate such as Basagran (Registered) or Paraquat.  (Warning: Paraquat is very toxic & has a danger label; Restricted Use Applicator license required.)

 

According to Bill McKibben, putting humates with fertilizer on the ground are very important to help correct mineral tie-ups caused by Round Up. According to Bill McKibben and Dr. Huber, there is strong evidence that Roundup® is picked up by crop/plant roots and is translocated throughout the plant. 

 

If there is a lot of fruit puffiness, it is most likely a Ca tie-up but there could be other minerals (such as P) and environmental conditions involved as well.  If there are a lot of smaller leaves, Nickel could be tied up as well.

 

In summary, Glyphosate does move in the soil to crop roots, it ties up metals and minerals like crazy, and is translocated throughout tree or plant tissue. The indirect result of applying Roundup® is the loss of protective minerals (particularly Mn) and enzymes and the higher than normal loss of trees or crops to diseases.  The best strategy is to avoid Roundup® as a herbicide and use other labeled herbicides as alternatives for weed control.