Introduction
Zerotol is used as a preventive treatment for ornamental plants and turf. It is a non-toxic broad spectrum fungicide that utilizes revolutionary peroxygen chemistry in order to oxidize and kill bacteria, algae, fungi and spores that may exist.
Zerotol content
One often asks oneself what is the difference between the Zerotol and the hydrogen peroxide. Why would someone choose Zerotol instead of using simply hydrogen peroxide, as it is known that it as well contains as an active ingredient hydrogen dioxide. However, the containing of hydrogen dioxide is the only similarity between these two. This acid is mixed with a variety of surfactants, stabilizers and buffering agents. All of these blended together; result in a totally different substance in comparison to the simple hydrogen peroxide. Whereas peroxyacetic acid is included, the result is a powerful activated peroxygen compound that has up to 12 timers a bigger oxidation power than the hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, the BioSafe Systems surfactants and the buffering agents that one can find in Zerotol, allow the high reactive APC to remain stable under high organic loading. This stability contributes as well to making Zerotol a non-phytotoxic substance. Therefore, this new substance has a bigger killing power in comparison to the hydrogen peroxide.
Zerotol uses
What is zerotol good at? It is used for seed bed treatment; for soil treatment and for pre-inoculation with certain beneficial organisms. How should one use the zerotol concentration? Before sowing seeds, one has to make a blend of 1:50 or 2-1/2 fl. Oz per gallon of clean water. Then wet the seedbed till it reaches the point of saturation. You have to use up to one hundred gallons of dilute solution for one thousand square feet. After letting it sit for an hour, one should immediately seed the soil. Having the seeds germinated, make a blend of 1:100 or 1-1/4 fl.oz. per gallon of clean water. You should irrigate the spoil with this once a week, until the seed is well established.
Moreover it can be used to reduce the quantity of the plant’s potential pathogenic organisms in the soil, which usually prevents the beneficial from becoming established. The blend you have to make for this is of 1:50 or 2-1/2 fl. Oz. per gallon of clean water. After this, one should wait one day before inoculating soil.
It can as well be used as fungicide on flowering plants, roses, ornamentals, bulbs, seeds, cuttings. It prevents disease such as algae, alternaria, black spot, leaf spot, powdery mildew, pseudomonas, xanthomonas, wilts&blights.
Side effects?
When handling this substance, one should use special equipment that protects you. Protective eyewear and rubber gloves when handling concentrate; while those that actually apply the solution should wear coveralls over long sleeve shirt, long pants and some kind of footwear that resists to chemicals. After handling this stuff, one should wash hands very well with water and soap; the clothes should be immediately removed from the body. As the Zerotol is a very toxic substance it should be kept out of lakes, ponds and streams. You should be aware not to contaminate the water when washing the clothes. It has a high concentration of toxins in contact with bees and blooming crops and weeds. Being a corrosive agent should not be used in concentrated form, but mixed with exactly the amount of water that is indicated on the label. Never mix it with other pesticides or oxidative agents. The storage, usage and disposal, should be done in accordance with the label’s indications.
