> What is the mechanism of FFA action on plants? Suffocation and some burning if in direct sunlight.
The consolation about veg oils or FFAs when land applied is that the microbes needed to degrade them are readily present and in high populations, opposed to fossil oils, where the type needed are very small in number in comparison. Todd Swearingen Thomas Kelly wrote: > I've been gardening for over 30 years by essentially "building > dirt" and caring for my plants from the ground up. > I've been know to chop off a weed's head now and again or yank them > from the ground. I've squished "bugs" by the thousands and lured > others to deadly traps. I've never used a spray that has any real > obvious results (dead insects or "weeds"). > I've been splitting my glycerine co-product into FFA's, potassium > (and some sodium) phosphate, and crude glycerine. > Yesterday I sprayed FFA's on some weeds in an area of the garden > that hasn't been turned yet. Today they appear to be dying. It didn't > seem to discriminate ... dandelions, wild mustard, plantain, grass > .... all withering. > I'm a bit taken back. The sprays I concoct from chives, peppers, > mulberry leaves etc. are intended to repel/discourage pests. I don't > see any corpses. It's more a matter of faith or delusion that they are > working ... I don't care which. Weeds involve physical removal and > discouragement with thick mulch. > The "weeds" sprayed w. FFA's appear to be in serious trouble only > 24 hrs after spraying. What is the mechanism of FFA action on plants? > Does it act on the lipid component of the cell membranes? Is it > systemic or just act on the point of contact - the leaves. If it only > acts on the leaves, will new shoots be sent up? > If FFA's are non-toxic, biodegradable, and effective weed > killers, it would be very good news to an aging gardener who turns > each section of the garden by hand, meticulously picking out the > weeds. I don't mind the turning, countless tons of compost over the > years has turned shallow hard-pan clay into beautiful rich soil that > takes little effort to turn. It's the bending to pick the "weeds" that > gets to my back. > I believe Todd Swearingen and Prof. Bob Allen have both mentioned > FFA's as weed killer. > My back thanks you, > Tom > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >_______________________________________________ >Biofuel mailing list >Biofuel@sustainablelists.org >http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > >Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): >http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.4/319 - Release Date: 4/19/2006 > > _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
