Answer: Answer: Herbicides do affect the soil biota unnecessarily. Weeds should be looked at ‘mulch
potential’ and mulched after mowing. Good soil does not allow weeds to grow as they need
a bacterially dominated soil. Most cropping plants are perennial and benefit from a fungal
dominated soil. Addition of compost and mulches to increase the organic matter in the soil
will turn over the soil biota to fungal domination. It is better to farm the soil and build soil
health than it is to apply chemicals. Growers using Glyphosate, a broad spectrum herbicide,
are having great success in managing weedy species as they transition to biological systems,
by adding humic acids to the herbicide in dilutions of 50% to 75% herbicide. The mix has less
impact on the soil biota allowing it to recover much more quickly than straight herbicide
alone
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