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Glyphosate in Runoff Waters and in the Root-Zone: A Review
Lyndsay E Saunders1, Reza Pezeshki2
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, 3700 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. lesaunde@memphis.edu.
Toxics
|October 21, 2017
Summary
Glyphosate, the world's most used herbicide, can enter soil and be absorbed by plant roots. Its impact on non-target plants in the root zone requires further investigation for effective land management.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Plant Biology
Background:
- Glyphosate is the most widely utilized herbicide globally.
- Understanding its properties, action, and environmental impact is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the discovery, properties, mode of action, and environmental fate of glyphosate.
- To examine glyphosate's uptake by plant roots and its effects on non-target vegetation.
- To identify knowledge gaps regarding root-zone glyphosate exposure.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of existing studies on glyphosate.
- Analysis of research on glyphosate's environmental transport (runoff) and plant uptake.
- Evaluation of studies concerning non-target vegetation exposure in the root zone.
Main Results:
- Glyphosate runoff from treated fields is a documented phenomenon.
- Plant roots demonstrate the capacity to absorb glyphosate from the soil.
- Non-target plants can be exposed to glyphosate within the root zone.
Conclusions:
- Glyphosate's presence in the root zone poses a risk to non-target vegetation.
- Further research is essential to understand the effects of root-zone glyphosate.
- Developing best management practices is necessary to mitigate these effects.
