By Scout Nelson
Field bindweed, a common weed issue for farmers, draws its resilience from a robust root system that can store nutrients and energy, making eradication challenging. This insight comes from Jeremie Kouame, a weed scientist at Kansas State University, who emphasized the complexity of controlling this weed.
Kouame explained that field bindweed seeds can lie dormant in the soil's seed bank for up to 50 years. "Initially, seeds that are near the soil surface germinate and start growing," he said.
The growth process includes the rapid development of a taproot extending up to 30 feet deep, which later produces lateral roots and buds, leading to new plant shoots.
This extensive root system not only supports the weed above ground but also complicates its removal. "The weed allocates a huge amount of carbohydrates to those roots. This energizes the above-ground and below-ground growth. In this way, the roots are what propagates the weed," Kouame noted.
Kouame suggests strict cleaning of farm equipment and monitoring of field borders to combat field bindweed spread. He warns that harvesting and tillage equipment should be thoroughly cleaned before moving to clean areas to prevent vines from being transported. The weed's fast-growing lateral roots could easily invade neighboring fields.
Adjusting crop planting strategies can also help manage bindweed by reducing its access to sunlight, a crucial nutrient for its growth. Kouame suggested, "Planting with narrow row spacing allows taller, more competitive crops to create an early canopy closure that suppresses the weed's access to sunlight."
Kouame emphasized the need for multiple herbicide applications over several years due to the deep root system's depth, emphasizing the use of glyphosate and WSSA Group 4 herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, and picloram for chemical control.
Mechanical methods like sweep tillage are used to disrupt the weed's growth by severing the shoot from the roots just below the soil surface.
"It's a common way of destroying the top growth of a weed by cutting the shoot from the roots 4-5 inches under the soil surface, which depletes the carbohydrates that are stored in the root system," Kouame explained.
Research indicates that the success of treatments involving glyphosate and delayed tillage on field bindweed, which has good vigor, is significantly influenced by the plant's vigor, with excellent control achieved when tillage is delayed 3-7 days.
These insights underline the complexities of managing field bindweed and the integrated approach required to effectively control its spread.
Photo Credit -kansas-state-university
Categories: Kansas, Crops