Description
Quackgrass is
a perennial, reproducing by seed and underground rootstocks. Rootstocks
are pale yellow or straw colored, cord-like about 1/8 inch in diameter
and vary from 2 to 18 inches in depth, depending on soil type and
treatment. Roots arise only at the nodes. Stems grow up to 3 feet
tall with 3 to 6 joints. Leaves are wide, shiny, and dark green
in color. The lower dry sheaths, leaves, and stems are distinctly
hairy; upper sheaths glabrous or nearly so. Terminal spikes are
2 to 4 inches long and have 3 to 7 short-awned florets in a spikelet.
The seed, with investing glumes, is elongated toward the slender,
short-awned tip, broadest below the middle and tapered to the blunt
base.
Prevention
of Spread of Quackgrass
The occurrence
of new infestations of quackgrass can be reduced by planting weed
free seed, using livestock feed materials free of quackgrass seed
and cleaning equipment before leaving infested fields. Particular
attention should be given to grass seed or grass seed mixtures imported
from the northern states.
Quackgrass
Control Practices
Control of quackgrass
shall mean preventing production of viable seed and destroying the
plant's ability to reproduce by vegetative means.
Cultural
Control Practices
Cultivation
- Roots and rhizomes are killed by drying on the soil surface. Tillage
with a heavy duty spring-tooth cultivator should be at a depth of
3 to 4 inches. The shovels of such an implement should be operated
at a slightly lower depth for each successive cultivation. The first
operation should be when growth starts in April. Succeeding cultivations
should be made at intervals of about 1 week even though no growth
of quackgrass is apparent.
Shallow cultivation
or plowing in the late fall will expose rhizomes to freezing and
drying during winter and reduces the stand and rapidity of spring
growth. Intensive grazing before cultural operations are started
is beneficial.
Competitive
Crops - to be most effective, should be planted only after
the quackgrass has been partially weakened by tillage. Closely drilled
stands of sudan-grass or forage sorghum may be used. In gardens,
a relatively close spacing of squash or pumpkins is effective.
Herbicides
Approved for Controlling Quackgrass
The following
herbicide may be used for cost-share with landowners. Other products
labeled and registered for use on this noxious weed in Kansas may
be used in accordance with the label directions but are not available
for cost-share. Be sure to follow all label directions and precautions.
For additional information consult the current KSU publication of
AChemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and
Noncropland@.
- Glyphosate
(Roundup). Application shall be made in the spring and fall when
the plants are at least 8 inches in height. Follow label direction
and precautions.
- Fluazifop-P-butyl
(Fusilade). Follow label directions and precautions.
BIOLOGICAL
CONTROL PRACTICES
There are no biological controls approved for use on quackgrass
at this time.
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