What does atrazine kill is one of the most common questions that experts in the field would get asked. It kills and affects a lot of things because of the presence of certain compounds, but we assure you it has beneficial effects too.
Over time people have begun to use it commonly because it promises to control weeds. As you continue reading, you will discover all about this product and its uses.
Contents
What Does Atrazine Kill In Garden?
Atrazine kills the weeds that grow in a garden, as this product is commonly used for weed control, especially to control the growth of broad and grassy weeds. It is a herbicide that is an effective weed killer that treats lawns, turfs, and golf courses all over the world.
However, because it has a strong effect, it should be diluted with water. It is mostly sprayed on crops like corn, sugarcane, sorghum, etc., and has wide use in residential areas.
– Different Types
More than three hundred products contain atrazine, where most are to be only used by professionals, while some can be used for residential purposes too. The products containing atrazine are fit to be used on soil, walkways, athletic fields, and lawns.
Furthermore, certain designed products are used on corn, sugarcane, macadamia nuts, guava, etc. The products contain atrazine in granules, liquids, concentrated, or sprays. Whichever product type you decide to use, always read the product’s instructions regarding how to use it and where it can be used.
Pure atrazine is usually white, powder-like, and odorless. It is not volatile, reactive, or explosive and is easily dissolvable in water. Furthermore, it does not occur naturally and is made in a laboratory.
– Working Process
Atrazine interrupts the process of photosynthesis in plants. This disruption causes immediate blockage of the food supply. It does not stop seed germination.
Rather, it causes the small sprouts to utilize all the extra energy, leaving less room for recovery. Young plants are more vulnerable to atrazine.
– Usage
Atrazine can be very difficult to remove especially when it is used in a large amount, or you have had the misfortune of spilling all over your beautifully kept lawn. Your plants are at a high risk of burning and getting killed.
The best thing to do in such a situation is to dilute the exposed landscape with at least five gallons of water per square foot. Once you figure out the exact amount of damage caused by atrazine, you can act accordingly.
It takes at least thirty to two hundred and eighty-five days for atrazine to decompose fully. The decomposition time depends on the current climate conditions. Atrazine-exposed areas have brown and burnt spots and can take weeks and even months to recover.
Which Grass Does Atrazine Kill?
Atrazine kills Bermuda grass and fescue grass because it has the ability and density of toxins to stop the photosynthesis process in the grass blades. On another note, it would also reach the seeds and degenerate the whole lawn, which would kill it for good.
In most cases, this chemical does not affect established grass plants; it leaves them alone and healthy. This chemical is one of the common herbicides used on golf courses. However, this is only true for some grass types or every type of plant used as a common species of lawn grass. Time plays a huge role in applying some of this chemical, as it can kill your beautiful plants and entire lawn.
– Bermuda Grass
Bermuda is a warm-season grass and shows inactive growth in winter. Atrazine can remove the Bermuda weeds only when the grass is inactive. The herbicide is effective in putting a stop to the vegetation process of plants. It is also used to change the color of the green grass to yellow.
This chemical is prone to have devastating effects on this kind of grass. It can kill the grass sprouts, restrict new growth, and kill the seeds at any time of the year. Applying it only in early winter or spring can also prevent the grass from growing again.
Always mix the chemical that kills weed with some water before spraying it on your vegetation, because it is too strong, and dilution is a must. It gets absorbed into the roots from where it is absorbed by the plant’s roots when you spray the herbicide onto the weeds. It mostly affects the growing parts of the plant, and for it to function properly, make sure you apply atrazine when it is in its dormant state.
– Fescue Grass
Atrazine is effective for the control of fescue grasses, but it can kill the plant as well as the seeds when it is used as a pre-emergent, but in general, you should know that it has a deadly effect on this grass.
Even though the chemical is not as strong as glyphosate, the strongest herbicide, it still has catastrophic effects on the plant’s health when used as a post-emergent.
Which Grass Don’t Die
The grasses that don’t die from atrazine are crabgrass and St. Augustine grass.
This is because the given chemical would act more of a herbicide on the grass’s health, rather than a toxic and deadly chemical to degenerate their prosperity.
– Crabgrass
This chemical is dangerous for crabgrass to some extent, and also, it would kill the weak crabgrass seeds and also the new sprouts but leaves the present crabgrass unharmed and does not restrict new growth, irrespective of when you apply it. In short, it wouldn’t degenerate the whole existence.
Crabgrass is an annual weed that appears between spring and summer. It has flat leaf blades and grows flowers in tall clusters. The weed has a fast growth rate, producing many seeds simultaneously in a single growing season. It is easily recognizable because of the pointed and slender leaves with purple-green stems.
– St. Augustine Grass
The broadleaf weeds present in the grass can be a problem. But, since the weed killing solution is an effective for both pre and post-emergent herbicide, applying it to your grass does not kill it. Rather, it helps to get rid of unwanted weeds, and it is actually beneficial if you think about it.
The grass usually has dense growth and propagates through runners and stolons. It is a warm-season grass and grows when the temperatures are near eighty-five to ninety degrees Fahrenheit.
This is the type of grass that is prone to die back in cold seasons as it is not tolerant to cold as the other warm-season grasses. It is a high-maintenance grass that needs regular mowing, fertilizing, and irrigation.
Atrazine Side Effects on Humans
The side effects of atrazine on humans would be causing heart diseases, and damages to the brain health. On another note, it would also increase the risk of cancer in females, and it would also leave an impact on male fertility.
Atrazine can be dangerous when it is overused or not used properly, it can have adverse effects on human health without you knowing. Furthermore, when used excessively, the product makes its way into the water and causes water contamination, which can negatively affect animals and humans.
Therefore, you must proceed with it cautiously and only when needed, so a safer option would be to use it with other natural weed-control methods.
– Heart Diseases
It is dangerous when inhaled, consumed, or comes into contact with the eyes or skin. If you notice symptoms like mild irritation, redness, swelling, weakness, or shortness of breath, visit your nearest clinical facility as soon as possible. These are different symptoms of heart diseases, or cardiac related diseases.
It is necessary to read the product’s instructions carefully and wear suitable protective gear before using it. Long-term exposure to the product can cause liver damage and increase cancer risk as well.
– Damage to Brain Health
Atrazine directly affects our brain’s health. It mingles with certain levels of our central nervous system that are responsible for controlling our movements. Delayed or halted responses to a situation can be because of exposure to atrazine, so we recommend consulting your nearest medical facility.
Atrazine affects plants and has adverse effects on human health and the environment. Sometimes exposure to atrazine is unavoidable, but the key is to take precautions and the necessary steps to save yourself from its fatal effects.
– Increased Risk of Cancer in Females
Apart from taking a toll on your brain, atrazine has far more devasting effects on the female body. It can cause the production of various tumors and cancers like ovarian, breast, and uterine, along with almost untreatable leukemia and lymphoma.
It also disturbs the endocrine system by disrupting the hormone function leading to birth defects, tumors in the reproductive system, and abrupt weight loss.
– Impact on Male Fertility
Human males exposed to this harmful chemical suffer from decreased testosterone levels and a decrease in fertility.
Furthermore, there are chances they can get deprived from being masculinized and feminized when they reach adulthood, and the chances are even greater if they are way past their adulthood.
Conclusion
The weeds are the most distasteful part of any lawn. It can lead to serious consequences when it is not used carefully, both on the plants and human health.
By now, you have learned what atrazine is and what it does, so let’s sum up the main points:
- The herbicide is effective in weed control and a more effective weed killer.
- Expect different results for every type of grass, which means the herbicide works differently on every grass.
- The presence of the weed killing solution does not have any concern-worthy effects on human health unless you inhale it.
- The damage caused by this chemical such as spillover cannot be reversed, but you can always lessen its effects.
Atrazine can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you handle it. Now that you know a lot more about atrazine, you will be able to handle things in a better manner, and you do not need to worry, as our gardening experts are here to help.
References
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp153-c1-b.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/atrazine
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0909519107
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