Summary of How Long Does Glyphosate Stay In Garden Soil? How To Remove Glyphosate From Soil? | Science Explains

00:00:00 - 00:20:00

This video explores the impact of glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide, on soil and plant health. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding soil type when considering glyphosate application and highlights the inconsistent impact that glyphosate has on soil microbial activity and biomass. Glyphosate is shown to disappear from soil within 30-60 days due to microbial degradation, but the effects on fungal communities and algae in the soil are still under investigation. The video encourages the use of organic seeds and avoiding chemicals like atrazine, while promoting gardening methods such as pulling weeds by hand. Finally, concerns regarding the presence of glyphosate in food are raised, though the immediate risk is uncertain, and the video concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on the matter.

• 00:00:00 In this section of the video, the soil scientist explains that she will provide unbiased information on glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide, and how it impacts soil for the regular person. She conducts extensive research and spends hours watching presentations on glyphosate to inform her conclusions. While she does not discuss the potential harm of glyphosate on human health, she does provide insights into its impact on plants and soil. She also shares a discount code for raised garden beds that ship from a Canadian company, which has lower shipping costs than competitors in the US or Australia.
• 00:05:00 important for gardeners to understand. Glyphosate is an herbicide that can affect soil microbial activity and alter the crops when applied frequently or in large quantities. Glyphosate-resistant weeds have been found because of improper use of herbicides, similar to the issue of superbugs and antibiotics. Glyphosate application rates on soil microbial biomass and overall activity were determined in a silt loam soil in this particular study. The way glyphosate interacts with a microbial community in a sandy soil is different from how it interacts with a clay soil, so understanding your soil type is crucial when applying glyphosate. The closer you are to the plant when applying glyphosate, the deeper it will penetrate the soil, and soil type affects the depth of penetration.
• 00:10:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the impact of glyphosate on soil microbial activity and biomass. According to one study, glyphosate led to increased microbial activity measured by carbon and nitrogen mineralization but did not affect microbial biomass. Glyphosate also appears to be rapidly degraded by microbes without harming microbial activity. However, another study found that glyphosate had negative effects on fungal communities in the soil, which is crucial for a healthy soil. The study also found that glyphosate killed algae, which is normal and necessary for soil health. Overall, glyphosate's impact on soil health is not straightforward and requires further examination.
• 00:15:00 In this section, the speaker explains that glyphosate doesn't stay for long in garden soil, usually disappearing within 30 days, and up to 60 days at the most. Glyphosate disappears through microbial degradation, so a microbial active soil would help to degrade any glyphosate that has contaminated the soil. The speaker suggests that you should use hairloom organic seeds, non-GMO, or F1 hybrid seeds if you are concerned about glyphosate's presence in the soil. While glyphosate might not be much of a worry, there are other more dangerous pesticides like atrazine that people should be cautious of when gardening. The speaker discourages the use of glyphosate, suggesting that gardening methods like pulling weeds by hand could be used as an alternative rather than using chemicals.
• 00:20:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the concerns regarding glyphosate in relation to food production. While there may not be an imminent risk of death from eating crops that have been sprayed with glyphosate, there is the possibility of the chemical remaining in the food if harvesting occurs within 30 days of spraying. Additionally, glyphosate has been found to decrease fungal activity, which is unfortunate given its potential benefits. The speaker notes that a study on the effects of glyphosate on bacteria, conducted by Cambridge University, revealed harmful effects. The video concludes by asking viewers for their thoughts on glyphosate and the potential issues it presents.