New 4,000 year pesticide

2001/05/30 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Nekazaritza
• Ekologia
• Ingurumena

The research was carried out at the Institute of Natural Resources of the University of Greenwich. In it, the properties of the soil of diatoms have been used to produce the pesticide. The stone has been sprayed and it has been mixed with the cultures of the cell and, in the trials carried out in Zinbaw, it has been possible to save the crops more than 8 months with the exception of insect attacks. They have shown that the land of diatoms is as efficient as conventional pesticides, but has a great advantage: it is not toxic to man or to other mammals. The soil of diatoms absorbs the wax layer of the external skeleton of insects and the insect is dehydrated and dies.

It is believed that the Chinese of 4,000 years ago did the same to protect stored crops. The land of diatoms is a limestone from phytoplankton, quite common in most of the world. Therefore, it would not be difficult to get and we would have at hand a natural, effective and cheap pesticide. Researchers at the University of Greenwich have investigated developing countries, since the decrease in warehouse losses can be a way to avoid famine. In addition, it will allow farmers to increase crop profits, as they will not have to sell it immediately after at any price. However, it is a technique valid for everyone. For example, the land of diatoms in Australia is widely used to treat the crop grain.