Researchers from the National University of San Luis have developed a biodegradable blanket made of a biopolymer that is extracted from the peel of citrus fruits, which works as a herbicide and inhibits the growth of weeds.
This product, called Ecomanto, also has a unique feature, which is that it is not sold as a roll. It is generated by the user on site by diluting the compound in water. It transforms into a film when sprayed on the ground, as explained by Dr. María Guadalupe García, responsible for the idea, to the specialized medium Argentina Investiga.
“Anyone with a garden, a nursery or a community orchard can apply it. A film forms on site and the process works in the same way as with vegetable cultivation. The seed is sown, with a hole made in the ground to allow only that seed to grow. The rest of the ground will be covered by this blanket that will prevent light from reaching it; therefore, weeds will not be able to photosynthesize and they will not grow. If any of them manage to germinate and begin to grow, they will find themselves with the mechanical impediment of having a film on top," said the researcher.
She also said that the Ecomanto does not need to be removed, since it is a biodegradable product.
Source: agrofy.com.ar
