Weed control on hard surfaces in The Netherlands.
The non-agricultural use of pesticides in The Netherlands declined in the period 1986-2001 from 127000 to 40000 kg AI per annum. However use on pavements rose from 23% to 50% of the total non-agricultural use. To diminish the dependency on herbicides, both preventive and curative non-chemical weed control methods have been examined. In the future both mechanical and thermal methods can be improved. On a flat pavement mechanical methods are preferred because they are more effective. Two approaches are used by municipalities to lower the environmental impact of the use of herbicides on pavements. The first is to phase out the use of chemicals on hard surfaces and the second is the integrated approach in which herbicides are not prohibited, but used only on places and at times when the risk of run-off is below a mutually accepted level. Both approaches can be effective.
Kempenaar
Corné
C
Plant Research International, PO Box 16, NL-6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. corne.kempenaar@wur.nl
Spijker
Joop H
JH
D000383:Agriculture; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D009426:Netherlands; D010571:Pest Control / Q000379:methods*; D063245:Plant Development; D011891:Rain
D006540:Herbicides