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Publications

Buffelgrass is a drought-tolerant, invasive weed that threatens the biodiversity of native ecosystems in the drylands of the Americas and Australia. Unfortunately, though, land managers trying to control the weed often experience mixed results.
When it comes to weed control, today’s growers face a double whammy. Weeds have developed resistance to many of our existing herbicide options at a time when new herbicide discoveries have plummeted. But a recent study featured in the journal Weed Science shows one often overlooked weed control strategy may help to fill the void.
Kochia has become one of the most problematic weeds in the U.S. – now resistant to at least four herbicide sites of action. And researchers writing in the journal Weed Technology say sugarbeet growers in particular have cause for concern.
Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are two troublesome amaranthus species weeds that are resistant to multiple herbicides. They also have unique reproductive features.
Sobering global survey data shows weeds have evolved resistance to 167 herbicides spanning 23 of 26 known sites of action. Now scientists writing in the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management say climate change and elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) may be contributing to the development of herbicide resistance.
As invasive shrubs become more prevalent in U.S. forests, they are creating dense understories that outcompete native plants. Land managers with limited resources find themselves facing a tough decision. Does it make sense to remove the invaders if a comprehensive restoration program isn’t possible?
Herbicide resistance is a costly and growing problem. In fact, many weed populations now exhibit resistance to multiple herbicide mechanisms of action.
Kochia is a highly invasive weed known to be resistant to multiple herbicides. In the Great Plains region, kochia populations have now evolved resistance to dicamba.
The broadleaf weed kochia is a real and growing threat to major cropping systems and soil conservation practices across the Great Plains. Some kochia populations are now resistant to as many as four herbicide sites of action, making it imperative that we understand more about the weed and how to manage it.
When battling invasive weeds, it’s easy to conclude that treating the largest masses first is the best strategy. But scientists writing in the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management say that isn’t always best.
Spring-applied herbicides are no match for henbit, a winter annual weed found in more than 50 crops – including corn, cotton and soybean. But researchers say a simple change in application timing can make all the difference.
Which environmental factors are most important to the establishment of new plants of invasive species? Is it seed dispersal from existing plants? Canopy disturbance? Disturbance to the soil or leaf litter?