Senior Science Project: Convenient, Eco-friendly Chemical Treatments For #FallopiaJaponica (#JapaneseKnotweed)

"Problem: Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive species, which threatens to out compete many native plant species in the eco-systems of North America. Invasive infestations such as that of Japanese Knotweed are extremely disruptive to the natural rhythms of both flora and fauna of a given habitat. This is why controlling Japanese Knotweed has been made a priority by most conservation efforts in areas where it is present.

Thus far herbicides have proven to be the only effective treatment for killing this plant and ensuring that it does not come back to re-inhabit the same given location. Due to the extensive root system, which if left even partly intact will cause the plant to re-sprout with greater vigor. Cutting, burning, and even manual extraction of each individual plant often prove to be ineffective. The herbicides used in treating Knotweed are not unlike household weed killers such as #Roundup®. These herbicides are designed to have minimal environmental impact but still are discouraged by environmentalists due to potential for soil and water table contamination. The goal of this experiment is to find a cheap, accessible, and environmentally friendly alternative to the herbicides on the market.

Control Treatments:

- Water
- Roundup

Experimental Treatments:

- Isopropyl (rubbing) Alcohol

Known to kill foliage by dehydration. This puts stress on the plant as a whole.

- Glucose syrup

Glucose is the product of photosynthesis and a plants primary source of life energy. In animals the introduction of unnatural levels of many hormones and chemicals (including sugars) can disrupt the organisms ability to produce these crucial chemicals naturally. The introduction of high levels of foreign glucose may disrupt the plants ability to produce glucose naturally.

- Brewed Coffee

Coffee contains a multitude of stimulants and other chemicals. One of these compounds is dimethyl-xanthine, which has been shown to inhibit the production of cytokinin, which is crucial to root growth and cell development. This chemical may attack the roots as well as the foliage.

- Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom salts) dissolved in water

This salt very hydrophilic and likely to absorb water from foliage and stem. May hinder transferal of water from roots to foliage.

- Phytophthora Cinnamomi

This is a common fungus also known as “root rot”. It decays roots that are in wet or saturated soil causing plants roots o rot thus killing the entire plant. This fungus is aggressive and seen as a worldwide threat to plant life. If injected into knotweed stems this fungus may selectively kill the target plant with out threatening neighboring plants.

- Vinegar

Vinegar is acidic and will kill foliage and stalks. Apart from stressing the plant above ground the low ph may also kill roots if absorbed from soil.

Conclusion: "The commercial treatment for Japanese Knotweed (Roundup) did not kill its host plant. Vinegar and coffee proved to be far more effective then the herbicide option in killing this weed. The vinegar’s acidity appeared to overwhelm the plant so quickly that the roots system may also have been stressed. It appears likely that the coffee did what was predicted. It attacked the root system causing the entire plant to die.

It was surprising to find the specimen treated with Roundup to still be alive after nine days. Its growth was clearly inhibited and its foliage did show signs of stress. This plant may be hearty enough to resist the herbicide. The abrasive properties of the alcohol likely caused the damage to the foliage thus stressing the plant enough to prevent further growth."

https://howtokilljapaneseknotweed.blogspot.com/2011/05/senior-science-project-convenient-eco.html

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