BROAD-SPECTRUM HERBICIDE

Abstract

A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide comprises a water-soluble extract of one or more plant parts of rhubarb and yew. The herbicide can also contain other plant material, including plant parts of Bryonia and Laburnum. The herbicide, which is based on natural products can translocate to the roots of a plant, when the herbicide is applied to an aerial part of the plant. The herbicide can eradicate grasses, mosses and weeds, including bindweed, nettles and dockweed.

Claims

1.-16. canceled

17. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide comprising a water-soluble extract of plant parts of rhubarb and yew.

18. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 17, wherein the plant part of rhubarb is the leaves.

19. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 17, wherein the plant part of yew is a mixture of the bark and the foliage of the genus taxus.

20. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 19, wherein the yew is common yew (Taxus baccata) or Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata).

21. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 17, containing one part rhubarb extract to two parts yew extract.

22. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 17, which further contains a water-soluble extract of plant parts of the genus bryonia.

23. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 22, wherein the plant part is from Black Bryony (Dioscorea communis).

24. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 22, wherein the plant part is selected from at least one of the roots and the berries.

25. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 17, containing a water-soluble extract of plant parts of the genus Fabaceae.

26. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 25, wherein the plant part is from common laburnum.

27. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 25, wherein the plant part is selected from at least one of bark, leaves, pods and seeds.

28. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 17, which contains one part rhubarb extract to two parts yew extract, one part bryony extract and one part laburnum extract.

29. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 17, wherein the rhubarb extract is supplemented with oxalic acid.

30. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 17, applied topically to plants that are to be eradicated.

31. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 30, applied by one of immersion, painting and spraying to an aerial part of a plant to be eradicated.

32. A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide according to claim 30, wherein the plants to be eradicated are selected from bindweed, grasses and mosses.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0044] Preparation of a Systemic, Broad-Spectrum Herbicide

[0045] A systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide was prepared from the following ingredients:

TABLE-US-00001 Plant Plant part weight (g) Rhubarb leaf 300 Common yew foliage + bark 600 Laburnum leaf, bark + seeds 300 Black Bryony roots + berries 300 Oxalic acid 150

[0046] Water (10 litres) was added as described below.

[0047] The various plant parts were shredded using a garden secateurs and/or a garden clipper, where necessary, and reduced to pieces of about 2.5 cm in size, and placed in a container. Sufficient water was added to cover the shredded plant material.

[0048] The mixture was then reduced to a pulp by pounding, using a metal weight mounted on a pole, and the remainder of the water added, when the desired consistency was achieved. The oxalic acid, manufactured by John Myland Ltd., of London, United Kingdom, and purchased from Lennox Chemicals, Dublin, was added with stirring until it dissolved. The resultant mixture had a yellow to green colour.

EXAMPLE 2

[0049] Treatment of Bindweed with a Herbicide According to the Invention

[0050] A segment of bindweed, consisting of stem and leaves, from a growing plant was submerged in the mixture prepared in Example 1. Within 1-2 hours, the leaves showed pitting and developed brown spots. This pitting and development of brown spots was also observed on leaves which had not been submerged. After about 24 hours or more, the stem of the bindweed had turned brown and brittle. These results demonstrated that the herbicide of Example 1 was translocating within the plant, without the inclusion of a surfactant.

[0051] Separately submerging a segment of bindweed, consisting of stem and leaves, from a growing plant in filtered water had no effect, thereby establishing that the immersion in water was not responsible for the effects shown above, following submersion in the mixture prepared in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3

[0052] Treatment of Bindweed with a Herbicide According to the Invention

[0053] The mixture of Example 1 was applied to an area of ground infested with bindweed adjacent to one side of a yew hedge. The effects observed with immersion described in Example 2 were observed and the bindweed turned brown and died. Subsequently, there has been no evidence of re-emergence.

[0054] It was observed that an area of bindweed on the opposite side of the yew hedge to the side where the mixture had been applied and which did not appear to be connected to the bindweed treated with the mixture had also died. Thus, when a stem was treated on one side of the hedge the stem of a shoot on the other side became brittle, turned brown and dried up. This is further evidence that the herbicide according to the invention is acting systemically and translocating through the root system.

EXAMPLE 4

[0055] An experiment was carried out to determine if plant extracts of rhubarb, yew and Black Bryony, as hereinbefore described, applied separately and at the same respective concentrations as used in the case of Example 1, would have the effect of eradicating weeds.

[0056] In each case, the plant extract was applied by brushing on the liquid to patches of ground covered with grass and moss. It was found that there was no effect when the plant extracts of rhubarb, yew and Black Bryony were applied individually. When a mixture of the rhubarb and yew was applied to an adjacent patch of ground covered with grass and moss, the patch turned brown and all of the vegetation died. A more rapid response was achieved with a mixture of rhubarb, yew and Black Bryony.

[0057] It was found that adding a small amount of Epsom salts to the herbicide, for example at a concentration of 40 g/litre, and which is known to stimulate growth of plants, appears to augment the effect of the herbicide according to the invention.