Abrasive Organic Herbicide Method Blasts Weeds To Death

The herbicide uses some ingredients that sound like they could have come from a gritty face wash.

By Francie Diep, Posted 08.25.2014 at 12:30 pm

One U.S. Department of Agriculture researcher is experimenting with a sandblasting-style method of killing weeds that could be certified organic, Minneapolis' Star Tribune reports. Agronomist Frank Forcella is blasting weeds with a spray of ground-up corncobs, walnut shells, corn gluten meal and other plant material. Sounds like he's exfoliating the weeds to death.

Working with engineers at South Dakota State University, Forcella has even developed a tractor-mounted nozzle system that blasts out organic grit using air pressurized to 100 pounds per square inch. Take that, lambsquarters!