Herbicide Damage (2, 4-D

14 years ago

Hey all,

I've come across is what appears to be herbicide damage on our tomato plants. The new growth leaves are very curly and cupped. From my research online it appears that it is due to herbicide exposure, specifically to 2, 4-D. I'm not sure who the culprit is. I'd be surprised if it's from herbicide drift since we're in a city and not surrounded by many lawns that could've been treated... So I think it's either from some horse manure compost I used, the straw mulch, or the soil we used. I'm not sure of the soil details since the community garden I work at ordered it before I arrived but I know that it is partially composed of composted materials, so maybe some lawn clippings or something contaminated the batch.

Also, I used the manure on some tomatoes at home and they don't have any of the same symptoms; but those tomatoes are being grown from miracle gro potting soil and these are grown from a supposedly organic mix. Anyway, here's my question: Have you ever had herbicide damage on your tomatoes/other plants, and if you did, how did you treat it? The plants are still growing, just looking real gnarly. Will they still produce fruit? (There are some blossoms on each plant)

I'm thinking that I'll take off the straw I used for mulch in case it is the cause of the problem.

Should I cut off the gnarled new leaves (which is about 2/3 of each plant now)? FYI each plant is about 3-4 ft. tall... Any insight is appreciated. I'll try and post pics soon

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Comments (7)

tomatofiend
Original Author
14 years ago
A follow up question: If the damage is indeed 2, 4-D (I'm pretty much positive it is) could anyone give me a list of plants that can thrive in 2, 4-D contaminated conditions? Our cucumbers are doing fine... Our cabbage and collards seem okay. Anything else? Carrots? I'm in zone 7 by the way. Thanks
tomatofiend
Original Author
14 years ago
Anyone have any advice???
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jean001a
14 years ago
If not herbicide drift, perhaps contaminated organic matter such as manures.

Check out this site re clopyralid contaminated compost
upon the kind at hand.
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/soilmgmt/clopyralid.htm
Basically same info if contaminant is aminopyralid.

Do the bio-assay to confirm or not.

Here is a link that might be useful: contaminated manures, etc (WSU)
tomatofiend
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the feedback.
It may very well be from some contaminated elements in the soil. If that is the case, and I have to grow fall crops on soil that is contaminated, which crops can survive 2,4-d besides cucumber?
DNewton
14 years ago
Activated Charcoal (Carbon) is the only thing that I have found to work. The best I've used is Biogize-SD which is available on Amazon under 'soil detox'. They have an easy mix and apply bottle which I just run through my hose-end-sprayer and apply to the soil. But they also sell it in bulk (40lb box). I'm convinced my tomato plants were suffering from herbicides big-time until I treated them with the AC. They revived nicely.

Dupont, who recalled "Imprelis" after it killed thousands of trees (and still is) recommends Activated Charcoal as the treatment to use during replanting.
tomatofiend
Original Author
14 years ago
Is AC effective for a garden that has been contaminated by a compost mixed into the soil or only for plants that have suffered superficial herbicide drift? I.e. since our issue is with the compost in our soil, would AC be able to remediate the 2,4-d that is already absorbed deeply into the soil?
DNewton
14 years ago
tomatofiend, AC is one of the most potent adsorbents known, and will also adsorb chemicals from compost, manure, soil, etc. The key is to saturate the effected area with the AC/water solution. You can't overdose on the AC, so applying a little more to be safe would be good.

Here is a link that might be useful: Boigize Soil Detox on Amazon