Canadian researchers are testing a New Zealand-made organic herbicide, but so far the results are not promising.
Interceptor is a non-selective contact herbicide made from pine trees.
Eric Johnson, an Agriculture Canada researcher at the research farm at Scott, Sask., said the product is approved for use in organic crops in New Zealand, but its main marketing focus is for use in home gardens.
“It is a pine oil extract and smells just like Pinesol.”
He said organic farmers might be interested in an organic herbicide that would allow them a pre-seeding burnoff of weeds instead of tillage.
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In greenhouse tests, Interceptor was effective on broadleaf plants, showing plant injury in just a few hours. But it was less effective on grass type plants.
“It is a contact herbicide. It disrupts the cells. On grassy weeds it didn’t seem to be so effective. I think it is a matter that there needs to be a lot of product come in contact with the leaves.”
The field trials provided unacceptable control, again because not enough of the product could be applied to the leaves with conventional field sprayers.
The other drawback is that the product must be mixed with water in concentrations of 10 to 30 percent, whereas conventional herbicides such as 2,4-D are applied at about a one percent concentration or less. This makes Interceptor expensive.
“I don’t hold out much hope for it, actually,” said Johnson.
He expects the product’s benefits are not enough to warrant the cost of putting it through the Canadian registration system.
He said it might be fine for use around the home where weeds can be targeted for heavy application and cost is less of a factor.
