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Publication - Statistics

Pesticide Usage in Scotland: Local Authority Integrated Weed Control Survey - 2019

Published
16 March 2022
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
ISBN
9781804350782

This publication presents information from a survey of weed control strategies used by Local Authorities in Scotland during 2019

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Appendix 1 – Results tables

Table 1 Weed prevention methods used by Scottish LAs in 2019
Weed prevention method No. of LAs % of respondents
Mulching 26 93
Replacing annual flower beds with perennial beds to reduce maintenance input 22 79
Identifying/mapping of priority areas requiring weed control to target control effort 10 36
Resurfacing (e.g. replacing slabs with asphalt to reduce the need for weed control) 9 32
Drainage or soil aeration 3 11
Use of any weed prevention method 27 96

Note: this table includes data from 28 Scottish LAs representing 89 and 93 per cent of Scotland's land area and population respectively.

Table 2 Mean ranking of non-herbicide weed control measures used by Scottish LAs in 2019
Control method Mean
Cutting, strimming, flailing, mowing 1.51
Hand weeding 2.36
Mechanical weeding (e.g. weed brushing or ripping) 2.99
Mulches 5.55
Hot foam, hot water/steam 5.82
Acid 5.90
Other 5.92
Flame/infrared weed burner 5.94

"Other" included creation of wildflower areas to reduce the need for weed control. No LAs reported using electrocution, grazing or biological control to control weeds.

Please note for the rank, the lower the number the more commonly the method is used. Please see Appendix 5 Survey methodology for a description of statistical methods used.

This table includes data from 28 Scottish LAs representing 89 and 93 per cent of Scotland's land area and population respectively.

Table 3 Mean ranking of reasons Scottish LAs used non-herbicide control measures in 2019
Reasons Mean
Environmental concern 2.70
Reduced operator/public exposure to herbicides 2.88
LA policy to reduce herbicide use 3.11
Public perception of spraying herbicides 3.48
Reduction of risk to water bodies 3.68
Other 5.15

"Other" included where herbicide control was not possible and hand weeding was the only option, e.g. in shrub beds where herbicide use would damage ornamental planting.

Please note for the rank, the lower the number the more important the reason. Please see Appendix 5 Survey methodology for a description of statistical methods used.

This table includes data from 28 Scottish LAs representing 89 and 93 per cent of Scotland's land area and population respectively.

Table 4 Herbicide formulations used by Scottish LAs in 2019
Weight of herbicide applied (kg), expressed as formulations (combination of active substances) and products (active substances and co-formulants).
Formulation Formulation weight Product weight
  kg % of total use kg
2,4-D 30 0.20 60
2,4-D/dicamba/fluroxypyr 24 0.16 54
2,4-D/dicamba/MCPA/mecoprop-P 4 0.03 20
2,4-D/florasulam 14 0.09 45
2,4-D/glyphosate 8 0.05 20
Aminopyralid/triclopyr 41 0.27 312
Diflufenican/glyphosate 171 1.12 588
Flazasulfuron 32 0.21 129
Glyphosate 14,553 95.50 39,361
Glyphosate/sulfosulfuron 360 2.36 2,947
MCPA 2 0.01 3
Total 15,238 43,539

Note: this table includes reported herbicide use from 27 Scottish LAs representing 89 and 92 per cent of Scotland's land area and population respectively.

Table 5 Herbicide active substances used by Scottish LAs in 2019
Weight applied (kg) and percentage of total use
Active substance Weight (kg) % of total use
Glyphosate 15,058 98.82
2,4-D 63 0.42
Triclopyr 37 0.25
Flazasulfuron 32 0.21
Diflufenican 24 0.15
Sulfosulfuron 7 0.04
Fluroxypyr 6 0.04
Aminopyralid 4 0.02
MCPA 3 0.02
Dicamba 3 0.02
Mecoprop-P 1 0.01
Florasulam 0.28 <0.01
All herbicides 15,238  

Note: this table includes reported herbicide use from 27 Scottish LAs representing 89 and 92 per cent of Scotland's land area and population respectively.

Table 6 Mean ranking of reasons Scottish LAs used herbicides in 2019
Reasons Mean
Invasive weed control 2.20
Visual appearance 2.21
Protection of infrastructure 2.43
Health & Safety considerations 3.17

Please note for the rank, the lower the number the more important the reason.

Please see Appendix 5 Survey methodology for a description of statistical methods used.

This table includes data from 28 Scottish LAs representing 89 and 93 per cent of Scotland's land area and population respectively.

Table 7 Mean ranking of steps taken to minimise herbicide use by Scottish LAs in 2019
Steps taken to minimise herbicide use Mean
Consider using minimum product rates or reducing area sprayed 2.20
Evaluate whether there are alternative methods of control available 2.29
Assess whether the financial loss, damage or visual effect caused by the weed outweigh the cost of the herbicide application 4.39
Use weed assessments/thresholds prior to herbicide application 5.02
Take advice from a professional agronomist/adviser 5.42
Other 5.42
Use of volunteer/community groups for manual removal of weeds 5.55
Use of mulch to suppress weeds 5.71

Please note for the rank, the lower the number the more commonly used the criteria.

"Other" includes identification and continued roll out of controlled biodiversity areas, use of controlled droplet applicator and reduced frequency of street spraying.

Please see Appendix 5 Survey methodology for a description of statistical methods used.

This table includes data from 28 Scottish LAs representing 89 and 93 per cent of Scotland's land area and population respectively.

Table 8 Factors influencing Scottish local authority decisions to use herbicides rather than alternative control measures – 2019
Mean rating (where 1 equals little influence and 5 equals strong influence) and percentage rated strongly and weakly by respondents
Influencing factor Mean % with rating ≥ 4 % with rating ≤ 2
Herbicide treatment more effective than alternatives 4.56 96 0
Herbicide treatment has a longer lasting effect 4.26 86 0
Lower cost of herbicide control 4.15 75 0
Limited availability of alternative products or techniques 3.85 71 7
Herbicide treatment is the easiest method 3.46 50 18
Lack of information on alternative products or techniques 2.77 29 46
Herbicide treatment is more environmentally friendly 2.52 14 39
Always use herbicide treatments 2.33 11 46
Follow advice from consultant or contractor 2.02 14 57
Have not considered non-herbicide control 1.93 4 71

Other factors mentioned by LAs which influenced their decision-making process included budget and manpower constraints.

Please note the higher the mean rating the stronger the influence on the decision to use herbicides rather than non-chemical alternatives.

Please see Appendix 5 Survey methodology for a description of statistical methods used.

This table includes data from 28 Scottish LAs representing 89 and 93 per cent of Scotland's land area and population respectively.

Contact

Email: psu@sasa.gov.scot

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