The Service Center for Rural Areas (DLR) Rheinlandpfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate) has demonstrated the results of an extensive research series for weed control in beet cultures (in particular for arugula) at a field show on the 16th of September 2010. The research study compared the effectiveness of several herbicides and hot steam.
The tests were started in spring and repeated in summer 2010. The results were impressive and can be concluded as follows:
The use of herbicides decreased yield by up to 80%, depending on what kind of herbicide was used against what kind of weed. Steaming however lead to an increase of yield due to a significant growth projection of about 2-3 weeks. Thereby steam had a 100% effectiveness against all kinds of weed.
This positive effect was reconfirmed at a second research study during summer. The report was published on hortigate.de in September 2010. You may download the document as a PDF by clicking on the following link:
