By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health Services

New research from Virginia Tech University shows that small insects called springtails (Collembola species) help farmers fight herbicide-resistant weed species in the soil. These tiny wingless insects are about the size of a small rice kernel. They live in soil residue and feed on weed seed. There are more than 6,500 species of springtail (Collembola species) worldwide. Results vary by weed seed species depending upon the thickness of the seed coat.

Two Virginia Tech researchers (Jernigan & Sonoskie) found that in a 4-week greenhouse study, springtails reduced weed biomass by 23%. Unfortunately, at first, the springtail-affected weed seed seemed to increase weed germination for the first two weeks, followed by a dramatic reduction in the las

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