Herbicides play a significant role in ensuring healthy growth of plants. In Canada, approximately seventy herbicides are utilized in the forestry sector. They have been used since the nineteen forties. The herbicides assisted in rapid clearance of weeds leading to increased production in the forest sector. However, utilization of these herbicides has adverse effects on wildlife and environment. It is essential to ensure these effects are minimized. This paper gives a summary on the utilization of glyphosate herbicide (Vision). Additionally, it discusses various adverse effects resulting in its utilization. It also provides an examination of the benefits of herbicide utilization to managers.
Summary on the Extent and Purpose of Use in Ontario
Vision is regarded as the bestselling herbicide globally. The active ingredient in Vision is the glyphosate. It is widely used in Canada’s forestry sector. Additionally, it is applied to gardens, parks, and public spaces. This glyphosate-containing herbicide has also been crucial in the production of genetically modified resistant crops. It is a non-selective, post-emergence, and broad-spectrum herbicide. Vision is utilized in forestry to suppress various competing vegetation that is undesirable. This has a potential of increasing succession rates following a heavy harvest. Ontario has the highest application of glyphosate in Canada. It has approximately forty-three percent (Canadian Council of Ministers, 2012). This is the highest consumption of glyphosate globally. Ontario has adopted various regulation to control its usage. Additionally, British Columbia occupies the second position in glyphosate utilization. Vision, which is its commercial formulation accounts for nearly ninety percent of herbicide utilized in forestry.
In Canada, approximately five million kilograms of Vision is used annually. On average, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand hectares of forest cover is sprayed every year. This translates to nearly three hundred thousand kilograms per year. Seventy percent of herbicide application is done through aerial methods. It is used in two activities including conifer release and site preparation. Spraying through aerial means accounts for nearly twenty-one percent. On the hand, ground spraying is twelve percent. In B.C, the herbicide is applied once every year. However, under certain conditions, it can be done more than once.
Beneficial Effects for Forest Managers
Vision has an important role in increased crop production. It offers several benefits to forest managers including high yields. Additionally, herbicides offer managers a cost-effective method of reforestation following fire or logging. During site preparation, herbicides are essential in improving seedling survival. Grasses, weeds, and vines can inhibit the growth of seedlings during early years (Zaller, et al., 2014). They provide a mechanism of jump-starting the seedlings growth. Moreover, they offer a cheaper alternative for clearing of leftover shrubs and trees. This reduces the cost of site preparation.
The managers can also reduce costs related to human resources. Herbicides can clear a larger area compared to human labor within a given time. Additionally, removal of this treated vegetation reduces the wildfire occurrences chances. These understory trees also block sunlight penetration to the ground. This affects the normal growth of trees reducing productivity. Sunlight is essential for the growth of succulent vegetation. These provide food and shelter for organisms that are crucial in the growth of trees.
Negative Wildlife and Environmental Impacts
The application of glyphosate-containing herbicides on trees has certain negative effects on wildlife and environment. Its mode of action ensures the killing of other non-target plants. It is often regarded as a high-risk herbicide for use in Canada. Continued utilization of Vision significantly affects the existing plant's diversity and numbers. In most cases, it affects plants on the field edges. Common weeds are essential food for animal species, birds, and insects in the forests. Insects get nectar and food from microorganisms. On the other hand, insects are eaten by birds. Therefore, non-selective application of glyphosate affects the ecosystem.
Glyphosate use has led to the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds. These weeds cover nearly one hundred and twenty million hectares globally. Monsanto has acknowledged the recording of around twenty-three weeds species. These weeds threaten utilization of the herbicide (Vink, et al., 2012). The giant ragweed is common in Southern regions of Canada. It is highly competitive affecting the growth of seedlings. These resistant weeds require an excessive use of the herbicide, which affects soil biology. Vision is highly toxic to various beneficial organisms such as earthworms. Moreover, microbes generating indole-acetic, which is an auxin with growth promotion potential. It also affects zinc and phosphorus intake from the soil.
Vision has a high solubility in water making aquatic life vulnerable. It affects plants and animals. Additionally, it leads to high deterioration of water quality. This affects the balance that exists in various ecosystems. Protecting water bodies from adverse effects of chemical pollution is essential. Vision has also been linked with reduced algae survival, as well as high toxic blooms. The contamination of ground water supplies leaves people and animals exposed to hazardous chemicals.
In conclusion, herbicides have certain harmful effects on wildlife and environment. However, they are essential in improving production in the forest sector. Utilization of Vision allows people to reduce the cost of soil preparation. This is because it reduces the demands for human labour (Thompson & Pitt, 2012). Additionally, they are crucial in ensuring proper growth of seedlings. Vision destroys all weeds that inhibit proper plant growth. Herbicides are essential in soil conservation since they do not cause soil disturbance. Frequent soil tilling may expose it to water or wind erosion. Therefore, it is essential for the Canadian forest sector to properly use herbicides. This will reduce the cost of production, as well as conserve soil.
References
Canadian Council of Ministers (CCME). (2012). Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life. Retrieved from Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines: http://ceqg-rcqe.ccme.ca/download/en/182
Thompson, D., & Pitt, D. (2012). Forest Herbicide Research. Retrieved from Canadian Forest Service: http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pubwarehouse/pdfs/33357.pdf
Vink, J. P., Soltani, N., Robinson, D., ardif, F., Lawton, M., & Sikkema, P. (2012). Occurrence and distribution of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) in southwestern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 533-539.
Zaller, J., Heigl, F., Liliane, R., & Grabmaier, A. (2014). Glyphosate herbicide affects belowground interactions between earthworms and symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi in a model ecosystem. PMC, 4634-37
