Horsetail is noticeably superior to other weeds in its ability to take nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from the soil.

We are used to seeing these Christmas trees, but in early spring horsetail may not be recognized. Juicy brownish-pink "candles" appear on damp meadows and wastelands, in ravines and on abandoned beds. These first spore-bearing shoots at the beginning of summer are replaced by green tough thin twigs.

The summer horsetail herb has long been used in folk medicine as a hemostatic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent.

And yet, despite these virtues, horsetail has a reputation as a vicious weed. It looks small and even boring: it has neither flowers nor spreading leaves. Loves high humidity, prefers light soils. However, I am ready to adapt to the most different conditions.

Like most weeds, horsetail is stubborn and hardy. Where the land has not been disturbed by a plow or a shovel for years, it does not let its black and white rhizome further than 40-50 cm. In crops, it sometimes deepens into the soil by 1.5 m. in the rhizome with small nodules located on it, reserves of sugars and starch.

Horsetail is especially successful in making its harvests on fallow lands or in a potato field, where it takes a weighty portion of mineral nutrition from the cultivated host.

Once you decide to get rid of this green "predator", do not expect to defeat it by simple weeding. Most likely, after a couple of weeks with chagrin, you will find that the horsetail on the site has become even more than it was.

And this is not surprising: the nodules of rhizomes remaining in the ground are organs of vegetative reproduction. By destroying the aerial part of the plant, you just forced it to vigorously fight for survival. That's when the nodules with a supply of nutrients came in handy for the weed.

How to get rid of horsetail

How to deal with this harmful plant?

Among other things, the presence of this weed is considered one of the signs of increased acidity of the soil. The introduction for digging helps to reduce it. dolomite flour or crushed hydrated lime.

On a note

Against horsetail, you can apply the herbicide "Glyphos". It blocks the synthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants, as a result of which the weed gradually dies off. It is practically safe for bees, however, it causes a limitation of their flight from 6 to 12 hours.

The biological method of combating horsetail

Horsetail does not tolerate the proximity to cabbage crops (formerly called crucifers). Their root exudates are capable of suppressing weeds. Therefore, in places where the appearance of horsetail was noticed, radish, radish, daikon, rapeseed or mustard should be planted the next year.

Horsetail - traditional medicine recipes

In winter, you can prepare an infusion of horsetail to boost immunity.

Its use will help to resist viral infections. 1 tbsp. l. dry herbs pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, drain. Drink this amount of infusion in 3-4 doses during the day.

With exacerbation of cystitis, horsetail decoction is used. 2 tbsp. l. Pour dried herbs with 1 liter of water, boil for 10 minutes, let it brew in a warm place for 20 minutes, drain. Take 150-200 ml 2-3 times a day. Do not throw out the squeezed grass, but place it in a gauze bag and apply it warmly to the lower abdomen.

Victor A. Krylov

The property of the field horsetail to remain viable for a long period due to the reproductive organs (rhizomes and tubers), which lie deep in the soil, provides it with powerful potential, creates conditions under which this weed is difficult to control.

The plant is widespread in almost the entire temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, grows in the northern and South Africa and in the Canary Islands. It is also a component of flora in many regions of North America, Canada and Europe due to its strong regenerative capacity - it can be spread both by rhizomes and by spores.

Horsetail's territory is impressive - it grows from the tropics to the polar regions, with the exception of Australia, and also in swampy and arid areas. Some species contain silicon in the epidermis, an element that makes the stem stiff and strong.

Horsetails are mainly represented by fossil forms. Modern plants weeds have about 32 species and are represented small forms- do not exceed 40 cm. Of these, nine grow in Ukraine. The most common types of horsetail on the territory of our country are field, meadow and marsh. Field horsetail is widespread almost throughout the territory of Ukraine, and in the steppe regions - only in river valleys, ravines and gullies.

Field horsetail refers to weeds that are harmful objects, the spread of which in crops leads to a decrease in their productivity both in the fields and in household plots... The field horsetail has a very harmful ability to "capture territory" - rapid dispersal and distribution. Wet places, acidic soils, swamps, wet meadows, river banks and reservoirs are especially favorable for its vegetation. It should be noted that fields and pastures that are unsatisfactory or not drained at all are hotbeds for its distribution, as well as places with sandy soil and gravel, such as roadsides, railways, beaches, and the like. The best conditions for the spread of field horsetail, in addition to moisture, are also the acidic reaction (pH) of the soil.

Horsetail is a perennial herb of the Equisetaceae family 15-40 cm high with a brownish-black branched rhizome, in the nodes of which spherical nodules are formed. Rhizomes grow both vertically and horizontally: they penetrate into depths up to 1.8 m, and in width they lie at a depth of 25 to 50 cm.Numerous shoots and spherical tubers with a diameter of about 1.25 cm are formed on the horizontal branches of the rhizome, placed alone or in pairs.

Horsetail in winter is preserved in the soil by vegetative underground stems - rhizomes, from which fruit shoots with sporangia appear early. Horsetail sporophyte consists of a horizontally located underground stem - rhizomes, from which thin branched roots and articulated aerial stems extend. The lateral branches of the rhizome form small nodules with a supply of nutrients. The stem contains numerous vascular bundles located around the central cavity. On the stems, as well as on the rhizome, nodes are clearly expressed, which gives them a jointed structure. A ring of secondary branches extends from each node. The leaves are small, wedge-shaped, arranged annularly - they encircle the stem in the form of a tube. Photosynthesis takes place in the stem. In addition to assimilation stems, the horsetail forms unbranched spore-bearing shoots of brown color, at the ends of which sporangia develop, collected in spikelets, where spores are formed.

Horsetail spores have ribbon-like outgrowths (elaters) with which they cling to each other, and therefore germinate in groups, forming chlorophyll-bearing gametophytes. Some of them are male outgrowths from antheridia, the second are female ones from archegonia. After fertilization, which is facilitated by the presence of moisture, a new organism develops. After the rash of spores, the shoots die off, and green branched (vegetative summer) shoots grow in their place. Vegetative propagation occurs thanks to the shoots that sprout from the rhizomes, and continues until late autumn. Shoots can even form rhizomes 1 cm long.

Horsetail plants form stems of two types: spore-bearing and sterile. Spore-bearing shoots are pink-brown, juicy, unbranched, segmented. The leaves are arranged in rings, grow together, forming bell-shaped thickened sheaths with eight to ten black-brown teeth. Spore-bearing shoots are formed in early spring and bear ovoid-cylindrical spikelets with sporophiles on the tops, in the sporangia of which spores are formed. After spore maturation, spore-bearing shoots die off and the plant develops sterile green shoots (7-50 cm tall). Barren shoots are simple or branched, with 6-12 ribs and obliquely placed and directed upwards multifaceted branches. The tops of the stems are without branches. Sheaths are narrow, bell-shaped, light green below, above - with dark brown triangular-lanceolate teeth and a white border on them. The stems and branches are surrounded by a small toothed shell at each node. Photophilous plant with a sporulation period in March - April. The depth of germination from the sprout is no more than 50 cm.

Field horsetail does not form flowers and seeds, the plant reproduces by spores, horizontal rhizomes and vesicles. Spore-bearing stems develop in early spring, with one spike producing millions of tiny spores (0.1 mm in diameter). They are viable for about 48 hours after release from the spikelet ( necessary condition for their germination - a humid environment). Since the spores of this weed are too small, when carrying out agrotechnical or chemical measures at this stage, it is possible to destroy the vast majority of them, if not all potential horsetail plants. Scientists have found that it is inappropriate to consider disputes as one of the ways of spreading horsetail, in particular in the fields where agrotechnical measures are carried out.

Horsetail propagates, as noted above, by spores formed on spore-bearing shoots and spreads through rhizomes. According to foreign researchers, it was found that half of the rhizomes, that is, 50%, are concentrated at a depth of 25 cm of the soil profile. And the remaining 50% was distributed equally at a depth of 50 cm - respectively, 25% of rhizomes for every 25 cm of soil deep.

Under certain conditions, the plant reproduces by bubbles growing from the nodes of the rhizomes and which are separated from it. Therefore, with the help of such propagules, horsetail vegetative propagation occurs.

It should be borne in mind that horsetail plants have the ability to reach the soil surface with great depth occurrence of rhizomes. For example, during the study, it was revealed that individual segments of rhizomes 1.25 cm long, which were planted to a depth of 15.24 cm, easily produced new shoots. Also, the field horsetail for short periods can withstand the shade and continue the growing season even in the absence of the required amount of produced carbohydrates in the rhizomes, which are stored in them and are needed for the growth and development of plants. Sunlight directly affects bubble formation. Thus, the formation of bubbles decreases rapidly under conditions of shading of the plants. Conversely, their production increases when plants grow in full sunlight.

Due to the fact that the rhizomes reach a depth of several meters, horsetail plants tend to withstand long periods without precipitation without complications for their growth and development. This property significantly limits the effectiveness of its control both with the help of agrotechnical and chemical measures. Also, storage and regeneration organs, nodules, serve as a means of spreading the weed. The size of the bubbles increases depending on the depth of the rhizome, contributing to the strong regenerative capacity of the plant. It was found that after the flood, horsetail plants germinated through silt layers up to 1 m thick. No spore-bearing stems are formed during systematic treatment.

How to get rid of horsetail

The main control measures for field horsetail are aimed at its depletion. For this, tillage operations are carried out with deep pruning of the root system with moldboard tools. Chemicals field horsetail control must ensure the penetration of drugs systemic action directly to the root system.

During 50 years of research on the effect of herbicides on limiting the number of horsetail, an interesting result was obtained. It turned out that their use for the control of annual broad-leaved weeds created the preconditions for the dominance of horsetail in agricultural crops. Also, based on the studies conducted, scientists concluded that the field horsetail is too sensitive to competition for light as the main factor in growth and development.

One of the features of the horsetail biology is its slow growth. Shoots sprouted from rhizomes in March reach their maximum growth only in July, and their maximum height in August. Horsetail forms the maximum number of shoots in September; dry matter in the rhizomes does not accumulate until October. Nodules formed at the end of summer increase both in size and quantity until November.

It was also established that the cultivation of the soil exhausted the large underground reserves of carbohydrates in the horsetail plants. However, the weed was very resistant thanks to its large underground root system. Soil compaction and long-term grain crop rotations, that is, monocultivation, contributed to an increase in the horsetail population. Re-loosening of the soil during one production season had little effect on weed development, but minimal tillage in monoculture stimulated the growth and spread of horsetail after several years.

In addition, during the research, certain patterns were identified that influenced the decrease in the number of field horsetail against the background without the introduction of nitrogen fertilizers and the simultaneous introduction of potash. It was found that under the influence of the latter, the growth and development of horsetail was limited even without the introduction of nitrogen fertilizers - it was suppressed as a result of the acceleration of the growth rate of agricultural crops and an increase in its competitive opportunities for light. Thus, there is no reason to consider nitrogen fertilization as one of the factors stimulating the growth and development of the horsetail.

Given the complex biology of weeds, scientists continue to research effective measures collection with field horsetail, including chemical. Since the vegetative organs of propagation and distribution of the weed lie deep in the soil and have protective mechanisms that contribute to its long-term storage and survival in adverse conditions, the use of selective contact herbicides does not provide a pronounced long-term effect on limiting the harmfulness of horsetail. Thus, preparations based on the active ingredients glyphosate, MCPA, dichlorprop and mecoprop had a limited effect on the growth and development of the horsetail after their use. In addition, it was noted that as a result of insufficient effectiveness of herbicides, the physiological activity of weeds changed significantly.

It was determined that even the effectiveness of the continuous action preparation, glyphosate, was unsatisfactory in the control of field horsetail. Farmers from the experience of using glyphosate noted that after applying it three times during one season to limit the harmfulness of horsetail in the next year, there were no signs of a decrease in its distribution in these fields.

At the same time, drugs of continuous action based on glyphosate, due to their systemic effect and the ability to control segetal vegetation both on the surface and in the soil, remain one of the most effective drugs for combating horsetail.

To obtain the maximum technical efficiency of herbicides during spraying, factors such as the biological activity of the weed and the optimal weather conditions for its development during the entire period of the action of the preparations should be taken into account. That is, the effectiveness of the preparations used for treatment is directly affected by the active vegetation of the field horsetail. In addition, it is unreasonable to introduce preparations in case of severe drought, during which the germination of weeds will slow down and water stress will arise in plants. Therefore, spraying is recommended after precipitation. If precipitation is expected in the near future (4-5 hours before treatment), spraying is impractical, since the active substance of herbicides during this time will not be completely absorbed by weeds.

In July-October, certain physiological processes take place in the plant, in particular, the active growth of the rhizome, the formation of bubbles and the stable storage of assimilants in the underground system. Therefore, the use of glyphosate in August during the study provided consistently better control compared to those sprays previously performed this season. The increased movement of assimilants at the end of summer to the organs of active growth (tops of rhizomes, nodes, and vesicles) promoted better translocation of the drug.

Of course, the fight against horsetail half-naked is difficult problem, which is not solved even by repeated cultivation of the soil. The developed system of rhizomes does not allow to completely destroy the horsetail - during spraying in the weeds, only the aerial part of the plant is destroyed and its recovery slows down. An experiment conducted by scientists in Canada showed that 16-time manual weeding during one summer of plots infested with horsetail did not provide sufficient control.

In passing, we note that during 2013-2014, six field trials were carried out on maize crops in Ontario farms under conditions of a strong infestation of horsetail to determine the effectiveness of various postemergence herbicides for controlling this weed. It was found that after the use of preparations based on nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron or flumetsulam and rimsulfuron in combination with flumetsulam, the phytotoxicity of corn was minimal and short-term and amounted to 3% or even less.

For maximum effective fight with horsetail, there are only two herbicides recommended for use on non-agricultural land. In nurseries ornamental plants, berries and fruit trees Diclobenil (trade name Casoron) should be used, the use of which is also advisable in cereal crops. The second herbicide is chlorsulfuron (trade name Telar) or sulfometuron (trade name Oust).

In contrast, the use of nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron in combination with MCPA, flumetsulam in combination with MCPA, rimsulfuron in combination with flumetsulam and MCPA caused phytotoxicity in maize within 6%. The introduction of a postemergence herbicide - nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, flumetsulam, MCPA, nicosulfuron - and a combination of rimsulfuron + flumetsulam and rimsulfuron + MCPA provided technical efficiency in limiting the number of field horsetail from 22 to 68%, reduced the density of weeds on biomass - 27-64 -77%.

Spraying corn crops with preparations based on flumetsulam in combination with MCPA and nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron - with flumetsulam and MCPA controlled field horsetail at the level of 69-83% and reduced the density and biomass of weeds at the level of 87%.

Based on these data, it can be concluded that the combination of drugs: flumetsulam with MCA and nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron - with flumetsulam and MCA - provided the best and most consistent control of field horsetail in maize crops compared with the use of post-emergence herbicide, the effectiveness of which was investigated during their tests. ...

According to the proposals of domestic scientists effective drugs to combat horsetail, the recommended "List of pesticides and agrochemicals permitted for use in Ukraine" are preparations based on the following active ingredients:

2,4-D 500, RK - 0.9-1.7 l / ha - for spraying vegetative weeds in crops of cereal and cereal grasses during the stage of organogenesis of tillering, corn - in the phase of three to five leaves.

Agritox, RK (MCPA in the form of sodium dimethylamine salts, potassium, 500 g / l) - 1.0-1.5 l / ha, 2M-4X 750, RK (MCPA in the form of dimethylamine salt, 750 g / l) - 0 , 9-1.5 l / ha (or other herbicides based on 2M-4X) - for spraying vegetative weeds in cereal crops and cereal grasses during the stage of tillering organogenesis.

Dialen Super 464 SL, v.r.k. (2,4-D, 344 g / l in acid equivalent + dicamba, 120 g / l, in the form of dimethylamine salt) - 0.8 l / ha (winter wheat), 0.5-0.7 l / ha ( spring wheat and barley), 1.0-1.25 l / ha (corn) - for spraying vegetative weeds in cereal crops during the stage of tillering organogenesis, corn - in the phase of three to five leaves.

Esteron 60, c. E. (2-ethylhexyl ether 2,4-D, 850 g / l) - 0.6-0.8 l / ha (barley, wheat), 0.7-0.8 l / ha (corn) - for spraying vegetative weeds in crops of barley, wheat during the stage of organogenesis of tillering, corn - in the phase of three to five leaves.

Prima, p. e. (2-ethylhexyl ether 2,4-D, 452.2 g / l in combination with florasulam, 6.25 g / l) - 0.6 l / ha - for spraying vegetative weeds in cereal crops during the stage organogenesis of tillering, sorghum and corn - at the stage of three to five leaves.

At the same time, scientists note that horsetail roots lead to clogging drainage pipes are one of the reasons ineffective work drainage systems in Lithuania. Therefore, in such conditions, limiting the spread of field horsetail is an acute problem. One of the reasons that influenced the spread of this weed was the agrochemical composition of the soil in the fields. To control this field contaminant in areas where field drainage is used, both mechanical and chemical measures are recommended. To determine their effectiveness, the results of weeding, liming of soils and the use of herbicides (Roundup Classic and Dialen 400 SL) were compared.

According to the research data, it was found that the limitation of the growth and development of weeds was maximum when liming the soil and intensive weeding of the field horsetail. In addition, liming reduces soil acidity. The application of herbicides reduced the density of infestation by an average of 38%.

All possible measures should be taken to purposefully control the horsetail. In particular, it is recommended to cover the aisles with black plastic wrap or mulch the soil. For mulching, use various materials as organic (crushed bark, wood shavings, needles, pruning, dried lawn grass, hay mowed, etc.) and inert (gravel, river pebbles). It is recommended to lay mulch materials on spunbond or geotextiles. It is advisable to drain waterlogged areas.

Field horsetail reacts negatively to the proximity to cruciferous plants, such as winter rape, oil radish, white mustard, arugula and others. The root exudates of these plants have the ability to suppress weeds. Therefore, one of the control elements may be the seeding of fields after harvest with these cruciferous crops. It should be noted that winter rye also has alelopathic properties - this crop can be sown to limit the number of field horsetail.

As one of the possible measures to combat horsetail, foreign scientists recommend attracting birds, in particular ducks, which willingly consume this type of weed. Also certain types insects that feed on horsetail, in particular Dolerus spp., Grypidus equiseti, Grypus spp. and Hippuriphila spp., disrupt its normal growth and development.

conclusions

Summarizing the above, we can conclude that it is impossible to provide complete and reliable control of the horsetail. To achieve absolute control, it is necessary to develop and implement long-term programs that include agronomic and chemical measures. It should also be borne in mind that drying and liming of soils are important elements systems of its control. And the cultivation of agricultural plants in conditions of high farming culture, the introduction of varieties with high competitive properties to limit the growth and development of the field horsetail are irreplaceable measures to control its numbers. It should be borne in mind that perennial weeds are characterized by extreme productivity, and if they are not reliably controlled with the help of reclamation, agronomic and chemical measures, crop yield losses will be significant.

I. Storchows, Cand. s.-kh. sciences

Information for citation

Biological features and control methods of field horsetail / I. Storchous // Proposition. - 2017 .-- S. 116-122

Such an ancient fossil that survived in all natural disasters, like a field horsetail, it is not so easy to remove it from the garden, because there are legends about its vitality. Rhizomes go into the ground to a depth of two meters, so that even forest fires are not afraid of him. Let's find out if you can defeat him on your site or if you should put up with his neighborhood.

How to get rid of horsetail naturally?

An effective measure to combat such a weed as field horsetail is the planting of its enemies, cruciferous plants, in its habitat. It can be as vegetables - cabbage, oil radish, and - mustard, rapeseed and others.

Due to the fact that all these plants release substances into the ground that the horsetail does not tolerate, and thus, in several seasons, you can completely remove an unwanted guest from your site.

Use of chemicals

Industrial chemicals, especially in high concentrations, are capable of killing all living things on the site. But horsetail reacts to it not always positively precisely because of the deep-lying root system. That is why it is so important to start fighting this weed as soon as it appeared on the site and did not have time to go deep into the soil.

To combat horsetail, various herbicides are used that act on both greens and underground part plants. Very popular with gardeners "Gelifos", which has a high activity in relation to the weed, but harmless to humans, domestic animals and beneficial insects.

Decrease in soil acidity

Before removing horsetail from the garden, an analysis of the soil should be done - perhaps it has too high acidity, and this is directly related to the active development of the weed. The fact is that this weed plant grows only on acidic peatlands, and even at high humidity, so these two factors may not play into the hands of the owner of the garden.

After making sure that the PH of the soil exceeds the permissible norm, it is necessary to begin to take measures to reduce it. There are two ways to do this, and both of them are harmless and even useful - liming the soil and saturating it with usual wood ash... Both that and another for several summer seasons will make even highly acidic soil unsuitable for the development of field horsetail.

Ash can be scattered throughout the growing season without the risk of harming garden plants, but liming is carried out only in the fall, when the garden has already been harvested. For this, 2 to 3 kg of fluffy lime are taken per 1 m & sup2 in the first year, and subsequently only 500 grams of the substance is used on the same site. This will be enough to bring the soil back to normal and destroy the weed in 2-3 seasons (depending on the initial acidity).

Horsetail is a very harmful weed that releases spore-bearing shoots in various parts of the garden, starting in mid-May. The plant is dangerous because its growing rhizomes draw out all moisture from the ground and impoverish the soil, preventing cultivated plants from developing normally.

When digging (both spring and autumn), the roots of the horsetail are hardly noticeable, so it is difficult to choose them. Meanwhile, they can go into the soil to a depth of 40-60 cm or even 1 m. It is very difficult to dig the earth to such a depth. Thus, the shovel does not get to the rhizomes of the weed, and it quietly multiplies, settling in new territories. Therefore, there are several rules for preparing the soil on the site, observing which, you can protect the site from horsetail.

Soil preparation principles

1. Using imported soil, make sure that there are no inconspicuous blackish rhizomes of the horsetail in it. Otherwise, the plant will settle on your site, and it will be difficult to get rid of it.

2. Lime the soil to create unfavourable conditions for the growth of horsetail. Usually, calcium-containing preparations (lime, chalk, ash, dolomite flour) are used for this purpose.

If horsetail grows on the site, then the soil is acidic

Dolomite flour is considered the most popular and most convenient remedy. Indeed, in addition to reducing acidity, it also improves the structure of the soil and enriches it with magnesium. And, unlike lime, dolomite flour can be applied at any time of the year.

The table shows the approximate doses of dolomite flour when liming different types soil.

3. Be consistent. In the first year, apply the full dose of lime materials, and in the next 2-3 years - no more than half. It is preferable to do this in the spring. If you alternate this event with weeding out the green stems of horsetail, then after 3-4 years you can get rid of this insidious weed fully.

What drugs will get rid of horsetail?

Since horsetail is a spore plant, not a flowering plant, the use of Tornado or Roundup is ineffective. Horsetail can only be destroyed by using a large dose (4 ml / 10 m2) of a more powerful herbicide, such as Glyphos. But in this case, there is a high probability of hitting dangerous chemical substances not only into the soil, but also into vegetables and fruits.

Field horsetail does not get along with plants of the Cruciferous family: winter rapeseed, oil radish, white mustard. Therefore, in order to protect the site from weeds, after harvesting, these plants can be sown on the empty beds. Winter rye has the same property.

The medicinal properties of horsetail

On the one hand, horsetail is a malicious weed that takes nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus from the soil and accumulates them in its nodules.

On the other hand, this is a unique medicinal plant, which contains a large amount of valuable substances, as well as silicic acid, which the human body really needs. It is necessary for the construction of the skeleton, the work of mucous membranes, wound healing and damage to the walls of blood vessels. The silicon compounds found in horsetail prevent the formation of kidney stones. It is especially effective in treating diseases of the urinary tract.

For cooking medicinal tea horsetail 1-2 tsp dried chopped herbs are poured into 250 ml hot water, insist 30 minutes and filter. It is recommended to drink up to 3 cups of this drug per day.

Of course, for an ordinary summer resident, horsetail is a weed that harms plantings. Therefore, carefully check the delivered soil, monitor the acidity of the soil and promptly get rid of "random" weeds before they have time to fill the entire area.

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You will need

• - garden tools (shovel, hoe, rake);
• - lime fertilizers;
• - seeds of cruciferous plants;
• - chemicals;
• - respirator, gloves.

Instructions

If you decide with horsetail ohm mechanically, i.e. digging, weeding and loosening the soil, you will have to do this carefully. You should carefully choose the rhizomes and in no case leave them within the boundaries of your land plot, but take them out of its borders or put them in a compost heap. (Weeds thrown to the ground can take root and form new shoots). But even after the most thorough soil cultivation and "combing out" the rhizomes, you will definitely not get to the deep-lying roots, they, alas, remain in the ground and germinate from new strength... That is why the traditional method of weed control is weeding, i.e. superficial, ineffective. However, you should still cut the shoots with a hoe early. horsetail a, which are brown spore-bearing shoots, without waiting for the weeding of cultivated plants planted or sown in this place.

Insofar as horsetail on acidic soils, their acidity should be reduced. This can be achieved by introducing lime materials into the soil. These include calcite, dolomite, limestone, sugar production waste, slaked lime, etc. However, with this method, there is a risk of a significant decrease in nutrients in the soil, since when applying lime fertilizers nutrients are not reproduced. If you decide to apply this way, carefully read the instructions for use of the particular lime material and strictly follow the proportions indicated in it.

Horsetail is not “friendly” with cruciferous plants such as rapeseed, oil radish, mustard, rucola and others. Their root secretions oppress weeds and doom them to complete destruction. Sow crucifers at the end of the harvest and during the subsequent period to prepare the soil for next year... If you do not find these crops, sow winter rye - it also has brilliant "sanitary" properties.

Chemical method. Inject into the soil water solution herbicide titus (read the instructions carefully). Add to the solution as an "adhesive" laundry soap or the drug PARTrepd 90. These herbicides do not harm potatoes and other crops, while horsetail and other weeds (sow thistle, starwort, galinsoga,) destroy well. Read about the timing of the introduction of drugs in the instructions.
Will help get rid of horsetail a field and aqueous solution. This powerful drug is capable of destroying all weeds both on the surface of the soil and in the soil itself, because has the property of penetrating the root system. This is especially important for the extermination of root suckers and rhizome weed species, which include horsetail field.

Helpful advice

Do not leave your land unattended after harvest. When new shoots of horsetail appear, destroy them immediately. This will make it easier for yourself to fight the weed for the next year.

If you have chosen the chemical method, select the hour before evening for spraying. There should be no wind at this moment, a cloudy quiet evening is an ideal time. Stock up in advance with a respirator, rubber gloves, a spray bottle. Work carefully, without haste.

Horsetail- this is perennial from the horsetail family. In folk medicine, the aerial part of the medicinal plant is used in the form of decoctions, infusions and tinctures for the treatment of various diseases associated with heart failure, to improve water-salt metabolism, with external and internal bleeding, malignant neoplasms, and kidney stones.

You will need

• - dry raw horsetail;
• - thermos;
• - boiling water;
• - a tablespoon;
• - sieve or gauze;
• - medical alcohol;
• - dark glass container.

Instructions

Use horsetail as a diuretic, for heart and kidney problems, for treating colds and viral infections, and for treating sand. It is also rational to use an infusion or decoction of horsetail for food poisoning, poisoning with salts of heavy metals, for alcoholic and drug intoxication.

For the treatment of urolithiasis, prepare an infusion of horsetail. To do this, take 1 tablespoon of crushed dry raw materials, pour half a liter of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain, squeeze, take 2 tablespoons 3 times a day, regardless of food intake. Carry out the course of treatment for three months.

For the treatment of angina, adenoids, chronic, prepare an infusion of horsetail. To do this, put 3 tablespoons of dry raw materials in a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 5 hours, strain, squeeze, rinse your throat with a warm solution or rinse your nose. The course of treatment can be long.

For treatment, tuberculosis, internal bleeding, pleurisy, dysentery, metabolic disorders, prepare a decoction of horsetail. To do this, pour 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials into a container, pour 750 ml of boiling water, cook in a steam bath for 30 minutes, strain, squeeze, bring the broth to the original volume. Take 3 tablespoons 4 times a day, 1 hour after meals. Continue the course of treatment for 2-3 months.

To prepare horsetail tincture, place 1 kg of dry crushed raw materials in a dark glass container, pour one liter of medical alcohol, put in a dark cool place for 30 days. After the indicated time, strain the tincture, pour into sterile dark glass bottles, store in the refrigerator. Take 20 drops diluted with 100 ml of water, 4 times a day for 2 months. You can tincture for all diseases in which the infusion and decoction.

Helpful advice

Be aware that taking horsetail can cause allergic reactions. Also, its reception is not recommended for individual intolerance.

Horsetail field- perennial rhizome plant up to 60 cm high. medicinal purposes vegetative shoots of the second generation are harvested during June-August. The plant contains proteins, bitterness, flavonoids, alkaloids, and mineral salts. And also acids - malic, oxalic and aconitic, carotene, vitamin C. Horsetail is considered a radical diuretic in the treatment of diseases that are accompanied by congestion.

You will need

• - horsetail;
• - boiling water.

Instructions

For rinsing with inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, treating non-healing wounds, ulcers, prepare a decoction of horsetail. Pour a tablespoon of chopped horsetail herb with 350 ml of cold water in the evening. In the morning, put on low heat, simmer for half an hour. After cooling, filter. Apply lotions to damaged areas of the skin three times a day. The throat follows 5-6 times a day. The course of treatment is 5-14 days, depending on the need.

For urinary diseases, internal bleeding, cholelithiasis, malaria, rheumatism and gout, prepare an infusion of horsetail. 4 teaspoons of chopped herbs, pour 500 ml of boiling water in a thermos and, infusing for 2 hours, filter. Drink the filtrate in small sips throughout the day. The course of treatment is up to three weeks.

To strengthen, improve their structure and accelerate growth, prepare a decoction of horsetail. Take 30 grams of chopped herbs and pouring 500 ml of cold water over it in the evening, insist until morning. In the morning, put on low heat and, bringing to a boil, cook for half an hour. Let it brew for 4 hours and filter. Rinse hair for two months after each hair.

note

Horsetail is contraindicated in patients with nephritis due to irritation of the kidneys with silicic acid, which is contained in large quantities in this plant.

Helpful advice

Decoctions and infusions of horsetail have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, hemostatic and antihelminthic effect. Strengthen the body's immunity. The colloidal properties of horsetail prevent the formation of uric acid.

Among the many useful plants special attention deserves the horsetail. It is perfect unpretentious plant has many healing properties, which gives a reason to use it in both folk and scientific medicine.

Plant characteristic

Horsetail is a perennial herb that grows almost everywhere - both on black soil and on sandy soils. Since there are poisonous types of horsetail, one must be able to distinguish between them. The first difference is the direction of growth of the leaves - up, not down. In place of the spore-bearing spikelets of the horsetail, young shoots appear, in other species they are located at the ends of these same shoots.

Horsetail contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants that have astringent and antibacterial properties. Horsetail also contains phenol carboxylic acids, which are known for their anti-mutagenic properties.

Silicic acid, found in the field horsetail, is very important for the health of the skeletal system, epithelium. It accelerates wound healing and affects the strength and elasticity of blood vessels. Also secreted by horsetail glycoside-luteolin has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects.

Uses of horsetail

There are many useful properties of this plant, among which the following are especially important: elimination of lead and other toxins from the body, improvement of blood circulation, stimulation of adrenal functions, purification of the body, and slowing down of tumor growth. ethnoscience is rich in recipes for decoctions, tinctures, lotions and ointments based on horsetail for the treatment of diseases of the liver, heart, blood vessels, respiratory organs, urinary tract, skin (eczema, lichen, etc.). It is recommended to drink decoctions of field horsetail for those suffering from hemorrhoids, cholelithiasis.

In scientific medicine, horsetail is mainly used to treat various kinds of bleeding, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the urinary system, joints, blood vessels (varicose veins), lead poisoning, pulmonary tuberculosis, metabolic disorders. Horsetail is also used in cooking: added to soups, fried, baked with mushrooms, eggs.

Are there any contraindications to the use of horsetail?

Since horsetail preparations stimulate kidney function, it should not be used by patients with nephritis or nephrosis. Those who suffer from hyperfunction of the thyroid gland should also be careful. Horsetail preparations are prohibited for pregnant and lactating women. The presence of certain chronic diseases can also be a contraindication to this plant for treatment purposes. In this case, you should seek the advice of a doctor and not start treatment on your own.

You can harvest horsetail wherever the soil is wet and acidic: along roads and in wet meadows. Collect it in April-May. Use a portion of the crop to prepare a fresh herb decoction. Dry the remainder in a dry, ventilated area such as an attic. Keep horsetail out of your garden. It is impossible to destroy it.

A decoction of fresh or dried horsetail is very easy and quick to prepare:

• Coarsely chop the stems of the plant
• Put 100 g of fresh horsetail or 20 g of dry horsetail in a saucepan.
• Add 1 liter of water (rainwater is preferred).
• Cover the saucepan and let the mixture sit for 24 hours.
• Simmer for 30 minutes over low heat.
• Cool it down.

Filter the broth thoroughly with a coffee strainer or fine cloth in a colander. Using a funnel, pour the broth into an opaque plastic bottle(for example, in a milk bottle). Close the bottle tightly and store in the refrigerator. Even in good conditions this broth does not withstand more than 15 days. You can easily recognize by the smell that it is outdated.

Instructions for use:

• Before using the broth, dilute it to 20% (for 1 liter of broth, add 4 liters of water).
• Pour the decoction into a garden spray bottle.
• Spray on the leaves of the treated plants.
• Repeat the process several times throughout the spring and summer.

Horsetail decoction is an excellent fungicide that allows you to fight big amount fungal diseases:

• powdery mildew striking vegetables, strawberries, fruit trees and roses;
• downy mildew, infecting vine, tomatoes and potatoes;
• scab and moniliosis of fruit trees;
• rust affecting conifers, gooseberries, pears, beans, potatoes, roses,