Weeds
The Role of Weeds
Importance of Soil Health
Misconceptions
How to Address Weeds
“Insect pests are ravenous, undiscriminating eaters of our food”
“Plants are soil parasites that simply extract nutrients from the soil”
“Insects, diseases, and weeds are the result of pesticide deficiency”
“Weeds and insects are parasites which warrant chemical eradication”
Soil health viewed solely as a result of chemical fertilizer intervention
“Weeds have simple cause- and effect- solutions”
“Sanitation-engineering”
“Construction engineer”
“Light-houses”
Deposit nutrients into the soil
Help the farmer decide what steps to take to improve the health of the soil
Balance of the soil
Example: velvet leaf cleans excess methane in soils
Can break-up and alter soil structure, as well as composition
Example: quack grass has a deep root system that can more easily break up compacted soil
Physical indicators of underlying soil health
Each variety of weed indicates different underlying issues. Weeds have developed to thrive in specific condition based on their genetics, and this can be extremely helpful to the farmer to understand the conditions of their soil
Weeds support different micro organisms in the soil
Weeds live in symbiotic relationships with soil micro-organisms
Directly deposit & re-arrange nutrients and metabolites in the soil from converted sun energy
The truth is, weeds show deficiencies or imbalances in the soil, but often times need complex, thoughtful, solutions. Not just chemical “quick kill”
Change your attitude/vision
Alter the soil (making weed pressure on crops minimal or nonexistent)
We, humans, categorize aspects of nature in regard to our needs, which is the stem of the problem. In reality the answer is right infront of us, instead of wokring agaisnt nature it is best to work with nature.
Actually, weedsoften deposit nutrients INTO the soil, not just take.
"Being a farmer over a miner of the soil"
First step in building a system without the use of toxic chemicals (pesticides, inorganic fertilizers,etc.)
Effect on the atmosphere
Accept responsability for the health of your country/family/yourself
Emissions of methane
False. Weeds and insects are indicators of soil and plant health. Instead of chemical eradication, they should be observed in order to understand the underlying problem, before implementing a solution.
Have a fertilizer program
Alter fertilization practices (in a way to change the nutrient status in the soil)
If we look at the fundamental functions of nature in the topic of soil, untouched soil filled with microorganisms and nutrients is capable of being the home and start of living species, which is the considered "healthy soil".
weeds also give to the soil by breaking up compacted soil with deep roots
In reality, insects are directly related to nutritional imbalances, and can be “curtailed” by increasing plant and soil nutrition
Every fertilizer should be compatible with the microbes in the soil (feeding the microbes that will then feed the plants)
Insects and weeds have a significant role and important relationship since they are a correction of imbalance in soil health. Where pesticide use can be harmful to these relationships and roles of each organism.
balance in the crops
Microbes makes nutrients available to plants
Controlling pests
raises nutrient density
Use a refractometer
Permaculture principals would recommend low intervention, NOT high intervention with chemical fertilizer
Farmers might add nutrients that doesn't match the need of the plant
Weeds are then really important because they act as the "lighthouse"
balance in electrical ground of soil
Negative charge
Only happens in clay soil
Rice production
Emission of carbon dioxide
Changes in land use
Deforestation
Grassland
Emissions of nitrous oxide
Fertilizers
Excess nitrogen in soil
Fossil fuels
Machinery
Fertilizer
Soil compaction
Soil structure
Water retention of the soil
Hold
Release
Absorb
Weeds can alter soil structure, tilth, & composition
Soil pH
Aeration of the soil
Soil texture
Clay
Sand
Silt
Microbial activity/ beneficial microorganisms
Fungi
Bacteria
Earthworms
Weeds
Symbiotic relationship with plants (Hyphea attatch onto roots)
Easier for plants to access water & nutrients
Easier for fungi to access energy (sugar)
Decomposition of organic matter
Makes nutrients available to plants
Create air tunnels in soil
Produces more air for plants
Support different populations of microorganisms
Crucial to the correction of imbalances in soil
Habitat for living organisms
An organism will survive and thrive only if the proper conditions exist for it to do so
Nutrients & recycling
An imbalance of nutrients in soils leads to inefficient and ineffective energy processing by plants
View soil as a living system
The life of the system depends on the status of microorganisms in the soil
Conventionally: we would add nutrients without considering its side effects or if the soil truly needed it.
Limits greenhouse gases emissions (nitrous oxide due emissions due to excess nitrogen added in soil)
Limits excess nutients in soil resulting in soil contamination
Gloria Leger-Goodes
Grace Beaudoin
Evelyne Leveille
Angeline Aylward