Excessive use of common saltto kill invasive snails and sluggards will harm soil and make
it unfit for agriculture, a study by a Kerala researchfacility finds.
The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has made a discovery in this regard during their research to find a scientific solution to eradicate Giant African Snails, an exotic pest which has got into farms land and multiplying
fast across the state.
Faced with the menace, local people are using various crude measures to kill the creature though they have no scientific backing to what they are doing. They mainly use pesticides like metaldehyde and common salt to kill the
mollusc.
But, researchers said the practice of using such things would have adverse impact on the terrestrial and aquatic fauna, many of which are important to keep the health of the soil.
Such methods would also change the basic quality and characteristics of soil in those areas. In future, it would even become a barren land, unfit for cultivation, the study prepared by the KFRI researchers said.
However, the researchers said the snails collected using protective gloves could be destroyed using tobacco decoction and copper sulphate mixture, which are less harmful. Baits
could also be used to attract the species to bring it out of its hides.
As they hibernate upto three years during under dry conditions, eradication drive should be carried out before the summer, the researchers said.
Scientifically known as 'Achatina Fulica Bowtich', the Giant Snail is a native of coastal East Africa. Considering the hazards it pose to environment and humans, the Global Invasive Species Database has ranked the pest second in the
list of world's 100 worst invaders.