Sluggo
Description of the Product
Sluggo is an effective and safe molluscicide product that controls snail populations effectively with a natural active ingredient of iron phosphate which is found in human dietary supplements.[1] It is non-toxic to almost all mammals and birds and even a large number of bug species, which makes it a valid choice for organic farmers who want to avoid environmental harm. Sluggo is a bait, so the target mollusk species must eat it for the Sluggo take effect and kill the pest. It can control various breeds of mollusks.[1]
Production of the Product
Sluggo is produced by the Neudorff Corporation located in Germany.[2] The chemical mixture is a trade secret since it is in competition with other molluscicides, but the patented formula is titled Ferramol.[3] The active ingredient in the Ferramol mixture is iron phosphate, which comprises 1.0% of the compound, and inert ingredients comprise the other 99.0%.[4] Although iron phosphate is non-toxic to most animals, the inert ingredients could still have some negative effects on wildlife; therefore it would be suitable to test Sluggo more for toxicity.[4]
Usage and Application of the Product
Sluggo professional is a very simple product to apply, with general guidelines for achieving optimal results.[5] A hectare of land requires between 25 and 50 kg of Sluggo based on the severity of infestation to be effective.[5] Broadcast application requires any standard broadcast spreader, while row application would require any standard granular spreader.[5] Spreaders would allow fast application but hand application allows more selective and cost-efficient usage.[5]
Environmental Factors Regarding Usage of the Product
The product is toxic to some aquatic life so avoiding direct or large runoff application to water bodies is strongly recommended.[5] Although unsafe for aquatic wildlife, Sluggo is non-toxic to humans, birds, wildlife or pets so it is a pesticide with few negative health aspects as long as it is kept out of water bodies.[1]
Machinery Required and Cost
Since Sluggo is non-toxic in low quantities to humans, it is a safe product to handle, it is acceptable to spread it with bare hands as long as the safety regulations on the product label are strictly followed.[1][5] However, if the user wants to spread faster and does not know which type of spreader to buy, then they can purchase or otherwise gain access to one of the following appropriate pellet spreaders.
Broadcast Spreaders
Broadcast spreaders are push-behind, compact spreaders that can be easily maintained and used. Some are also relatively inexpensive, with prices ranging at Home Depot, as an example, to be anywhere from $35.00 to $500.00.[6] Normally broadcast spreaders are better suited for spreading than drop spreaders because as they spread, the fertilizer, or in this case- insect bait, is thrown in all directions or a specific direction, which makes the job easier to accomplish.[7] The product that the user is spreading, which in this case is Sluggo, should come with approximate application amounts based on the situation, which should allow the user to set the application speed to efficiently use the product.[7] If the user wants to efficiently spread the Sluggo to ensure none is wasted, using a broadcast spreader is highly recommended over simply spreading with hands, since it is difficult to manually spread anything evenly.
Granular Spreaders
Even simpler than broadcast spreaders are the granular spreaders, of which a good example is the Granomax spreader.[8] Some advantages the Granomax spreader has over broadcast spreaders include the fact that it is less expensive than most broadcast spreaders being priced at $69.99 on amazon.com, as well as being lightweight and compact[9] The small nozzle allows the user to be more selective where the molluscicide is spread if there is a specific area of the field that must be addressed. A disadvantage would be that it would take longer to spread the Sluggo with the Granomax than it would with a broadcast spreader, although it is still faster spreading than manually spreading Sluggo.
References
- ^ a b c d "Sluggo fast-acting and effective bait for snail and slug control". Western Farm Press. 22 (4): 39. 2000.
- ^ "About neudorff". www.Neudorff.com.
- ^ [Slug and snail control. Retrieved from http://www.neudorff.com/pest-control/slug-and-snail-control.html "Slug and snail control"]. www.Neudorff.com.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ a b "Sluggo (Product Label)". www.Biconet.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Sluggo Professional (Product Label)". www.engageagro.com.
- ^ "The Home Depot". www.thehomedepot.com.
- ^ a b Lewis, Melissa. "How to use a broadcast spreader". www.gardenguides.com.
- ^ "Granomax; a versatile granule spreader for a wide range of horticultural applications". www.dejex.co.uk.
- ^ "Granomax granular spreader for ice melter, fertilizer, seeds and more!". www.amazon.com.