Wheatgrass is a malicious weed distributed throughout Ukraine, which causes significant damage to cultivated plants, especially crops of cereals and vegetables. It releases toxic substances that have a detrimental effect on the ladder of only sown seeds, consumes all the moisture from the soil, drying and depleting it, shades young seedlings, and acts as a reserve for pathogenic microorganisms and pests. That is why it is important to know how to get rid of wheatgrass, because the approach to its destruction must be comprehensive, and conventional mechanical removal methods do not give the desired result due to the deep location of the root system.
Types of factors for the development of wheatgrass
Grains that remain viable in the soil for 5 years begin to germinate in early spring, at temperatures of 2 - 4 ° C and from a depth of 7-10 cm, and germination starting in March-May continues throughout the entire growing season. In addition to grains, reproduction also occurs through the root system, which contains underground renewal buds, shoots from which sprout from a depth of up to 25 cm.
In June-July, the flowering period begins, as a result of which up to 12,000 seeds appear on each plant.
The optimal conditions for the development of wheatgrass are warm, dry weather (optimally 20-30 °C), and germination occurs continuously, even at fairly high temperatures up to 42-44 °C. Aboveground parts are damaged only when average daily temperatures drop to 10 - 12 °C.
The light-loving plant is widespread in Ukraine, especially in the steppe and forest-steppe zones. If there is no control of wheatgrass, it can form continuous thickets, which cannot be gotten rid of using conventional agrotechnical methods.
What kind of wheatgrass plant is it?
Wheatgrass belongs to the perennial herbaceous plants of the Poaceae family. The height of its stem can reach 1.5 m, which also does not have the best effect on its cultural “neighbors”: they lack sunlight.
The cord-like creeping roots of the weed do not have a rest period, and at the slightest damage they begin to grow vigorously, releasing new shoots. Almost any piece of rhizome that has at least one bud can grow. The roots in the ground are located horizontally at a depth of 5 to 15 cm and branch. Towards the end of June they begin to grow deeper, thicken, forming nodules for overwintering. In three years, the rhizome can deepen by 2.5 m.
On loose, fertile soils, wheatgrass reproduces exclusively by rhizomes, without wasting energy on flowering. Seeds are formed in dry years, when root development is difficult.
Wheatgrass is not afraid of cold weather; in the spring it starts to grow literally from under the snow. Seeds germinate at a temperature of 3°C. The weed is not afraid of drought; it can grow in different soils.
Herbicides for wheatgrass - mechanism of action
Herbicide against wheatgrass can provide reliable protection of crops for a long period, completely destroying harmful vegetation. Such preparations, including wheatgrass herbicides, may differ in their mechanism of action and require careful adherence to the instructions. In some cases, double treatment is necessary, and if the area is completely overgrown, the use of continuous action products is necessary.
Each drug has a unique composition, due to which it has a detrimental effect on certain types of crops. Selective herbicides intended for use on seedlings provide protection without negative effects on crops, subject to compliance with application rates and timing and other restrictions recommended by the manufacturer.
Correct advice from summer residents: how to effectively control weeds on your site
When using herbicides, pay attention to the weather. The effect of the reagent on the weed directly depends on weather conditions. The best results are achieved when processing is carried out when the weather is sunny. If it is cool outside, all processes in plants slow down, and the influence of the chemical weakens.
Dew and increased air humidity reduce the effects of poison. It is dangerous to use herbicides in dry, hot weather. Vapors from the chemical can cause burns to vegetable plants located near weeds. In most cases, it is worth using safe methods for destroying wheatgrass, but if you need to clean a large area, then you cannot do without chemicals.
Only the latest chemicals should be used, which include glyphosate and a safe adhesive. If you strictly follow the instructions, you can get rid of wheatgrass without harm to the environment and crops.
Herbicide Defenda Napalm for wheatgrass
An effective systemic non-selective remedy for wheatgrass, intended for pre-sowing use in areas under soybeans and fallows.
Among the advantages:
- complete destruction of evil vegetation in crops;
- rapid decomposition in the soil, thanks to which sowing work can begin within 3-7 days
- possibility of use as desiccants;
- moderate toxicity and no negative effect on beneficial insects.
The active ingredient, isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, is an inhibitor of amino acid synthesis and has the ability to penetrate above-ground parts during the active growing season. Thanks to the systemic effect, it spreads throughout the plant, causing a rapid and complete cessation of its growth and the death of above-ground organs and the root system. Signs of the herbicide effect become noticeable after 5-7 days, and complete death of the weeds occurs after 2 weeks.
The product is used by spraying actively vegetating weeds before and after the sowing period (before emergence), when the height reaches 10-20 cm, as well as in the fall, when the predecessor crop is harvested. To achieve the desired result, a single treatment is sufficient in compliance with the consumption rate of 4-6 l/ha.
How to destroy wheatgrass in the garden - mulch, weeding and a miracle weed shovel
These are the oldest and most common ways to destroy wheatgrass in the garden, and the most labor-intensive, because summer residents will have to fight the weed literally with their bare hands. All of them require remarkable patience - the effect will be noticeable by the end of summer or the next season.
The main task is to cut off the wheatgrass’s access to what it needs for growth and development, that is, to light, moisture and, if possible, air - problems will arise with the latter, but with limiting light and moisture everything is simple:
- In the spring, as soon as the surface of the soil becomes slightly moist, we cover its surface with sawdust - they will absorb moisture from the ground, preventing the wheatgrass from gaining strength for germination. Instead of sawdust, you can use mulch from bark or mown grass;
- A film is placed on the sawdust, preferably black, so that light does not penetrate under it - the germinating wheatgrass will weaken, and then, when the soil under the film warms up to high temperatures (the black cover creates a powerful greenhouse effect), the grass will die. Instead of black film, you can use old sheets of rubber slate.
Mulch is also used to get rid of weeds on paths - in this case it is better to use a thick layer of expanded clay chips or other stones of small diameter, and before laying them, the soil is treated with chemicals or folk remedies. In autumn, remove the mulch and dig up the soil, removing the remains of rhizomes.
miracle shovel against wheatgrass - pictured
A more labor-intensive way to remove wheatgrass from the lawn and beds is weeding and digging up plants with roots, which will require the maximum amount of time and effort. You will have to start processing in early spring - first, dig up the area with a miracle wheatgrass shovel or an ordinary pitchfork, since these tools do not cut the roots, but remove them from the soil intact. The roots should be removed, as well as the remnants of the green parts of wheatgrass. They spend the entire season weeding the area, trying to remove the plants along with their roots, and in the fall they dig again with a pitchfork or a miracle shovel. Next year the amount of weed will decrease, but it is recommended to repeat the procedure.
Wheatgrass is one of the most difficult weeds to remove, and the tips given will help summer residents get rid of it, if not forever, then for several years, the main thing is not to give up in the fight against this annoying and tenacious plant.
Herbicide Syngenta Hurricane Forte for wheatgrass
An effective product based on glyphosate, which is widely used to eliminate unwanted vegetation in forestry, industrial facilities, summer cottages, gardens, vineyards, and also for couples.
The main advantages are:
- the highest solubility among analogues of this chemical group;
- minimum cost norm;
- fast action;
- Resistant to washing away by rain.
The active substance of the product, the potassium salt of glyphosate, penetrates through leaf tissue into all above-ground and underground organs, causing its complete death within 5-14 days. It is used in the active phase of weed development by spraying them in a medium drip mode in the pre-emergence period or when the crop is harvested. The application rate is determined by crop and is 1.5-4.0 l/ha.
How to remove creeping wheatgrass in the garden with green manure and herbicides: application
Herbicides come in continuous and selective action. The first ones are used in areas where there are no plants, but only need to remove weeds. The second type is applicable to soil in which vegetables, flowers or other crops grow.
Herbicides
When choosing herbicides, we recommend purchasing and using:
- Roundup
- Hurricane Forte
- Agrokiller
- Glyphos
- Tornado
- Ground
- Fusilade Forte
The use of green manure is an organic method of soil cultivation. This method has a positive effect on the condition of the soil and the environment. You can use the following green manure plants:
- Sarepta mustard
- phacelia
- buckwheat
Sowing green manure
You can also sow the area:
- rapeseed
- clover
- rye
- peas
You need to sow the area with green manure 30 days before you plan to plant a vegetable garden or immediately after the entire harvest is harvested. When green manure grows, it will crowd out all the weeds.
Herbicide DEFENDA Monsoon for wheatgrass
Herbicide against wheatgrass for corn, can be used on crops that are grown for grain and silage in the post-emergence period.
The main advantages of the product are:
- excellent selectivity for corn of any variety;
- convenience without adding adhesives;
- wide range of application - possible use in the period of 3-10 true leaves;
- Highly effective against rhizomatous weeds.
Absorbed by the stem and leaves immediately after treatment, thanks to the systemic effect, it quickly spreads through its tissues and moves into the root system, stopping cell division. As a result, the weeds stop growing, turn red and die completely within 3 weeks. In this case, only those plants whose seedlings appeared above the soil surface are destroyed.
It is used for spraying during the period of greatest sensitivity of wheatgrass (phase 1-4 leaves) in warm, dry weather, observing a consumption rate of 1.25 l/ha.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of this method are obvious:
- saving effort and time;
- effective control of even the most difficult to remove weeds;
- the ability to quickly process large areas;
- availability of choice of a specific drug depending on the type of weed, neglect of the site, environmental conditions;
- after 2 weeks there is nothing left of them in the soil, the substances do not accumulate.
Disadvantages of chemical control:
Continuous action drugs, which are the most effective, destroy not only unnecessary things, but also cultivated crops, and therefore require special care. These agents are useless against seeds, so plants that are not destroyed before maturation and reproduction have time to become a source of new problems in the future. You should also know that seeds can lie in the ground for several years and then sprout. Toxicity
It is necessary to work with these products in protective equipment and in compliance with all prescribed safety rules.
If it is necessary to repeat the treatment, it is better to alternate the drugs.
Herbicide Defenda Rome for wheatgrass
Selective post-emergence drug intended for the control of wheatgrass in corn crops.
Among the advantages:
- The absence of phytotoxic effects is due to the rapid decomposition of the active substance;
- Rapid decomposition in soil to safe chemical compounds;
- Wide spectrum of action;
- Low cost rate;
- Possibility of use in water protection zones, since the product does not cause pollution of reservoirs and groundwater;
The active ingredient of the drug - rimsulforon, absorbed by the leaves, quickly spreads to the harmful plant and inhibits cell division at the growth points of roots and shoots
It is used for spraying corn crops in the phase of 1-7 true leaves at a dosage of 0.040-0.050 kg per hectare of land.
The working solution is prepared immediately before use. The best results are achieved when applied independently. Crop rotation is not limited.
Fighting wheatgrass with folk remedies
Since it is not always possible to remove wheatgrass from the garden forever with the help of chemicals, and they often cannot be used, folk remedies for weed control will come to the rescue, and substances that can be found in any home will help you get rid of this annoying plant:
- Sodium bicarbonate or regular baking soda - a strong solution is prepared from it (a standard package of 5 liters of water) and poured into the places where wheatgrass grows, but this product is not suitable for treating large areas. A strong solution of table salt (3 kg per bucket of water) has a similar effect;
- Citric acid - a solution for spraying wheatgrass is prepared from it; 3 tablespoons of crystalline acid are taken per liter jar. It is advisable to spray in clear weather - the brighter the sun, the faster the weed will die;
- Medical alcohol from 60% strength - this product is used to water the soil in the spring, when the first wheatgrass seedlings appear. The consumption is small - up to 5 liters per hundred square meters, and seedlings and seedlings can be planted a month after treatment.
Wheatgrass roots are so sharp and powerful that they penetrate any obstacles, such as a bulb.
Another unusual way to remove wheatgrass from the garden forever is to burn it with an open fire; this will require a blowtorch and caution. They burn the grass in the dew so that the fire does not spread to buildings - this method works best on paths, but the disadvantage of this method is that there is no 100% guarantee; at a depth of more than 5 cm, the roots of the wheatgrass remain alive, and over time the weed sprouts again.
Another folk remedy for getting rid of wheatgrass without chemicals and much labor is planting special plants that suppress the growth of this weed - phacelia green manure is exactly what wheatgrass is afraid of; other green manures - mustard, rapeseed, lupine and clover - also have a good effect.
Herbicide Defenda Haruma for wheatgrass
Post-emergence herbicide tolerant to sunflower, rapeseed, sugar beet and soybean is effective against a wide range of weeds including wheatgrass.
The product has many advantages
- high absorption rate;
- complete destruction of unwanted vegetation including the root system;
- maintaining efficiency in all weather conditions;
- no restrictions on the use of tolerant crops and crop rotation during the growing season.
Due to its systemic action, it is quickly and completely absorbed by the above-ground organs of weeds and spread throughout the plant to the growth and root points, disrupting lipid synthesis, leading to their complete death within 3 weeks. Effectively protects crops by the end of the growing season. Suppression of wheatgrass occurs after a week, by spraying, when its height reaches 10-15 cm, observing a consumption rate of 0.8-1.2 l/ha.
Pumpkin vs wheatgrass
Many summer residents will find this method useful: growing pumpkins against wheatgrass. Using it, we solve two problems at once:
- we get pumpkin fruits, which are very useful for people of any age;
- We clean a section of the garden (vegetable garden) overgrown with wheatgrass.
For planting, you should choose long-climbing pumpkin varieties. We will plant an area densely overgrown with wheatgrass with pumpkin seeds at the end of May. In order for the seeds to germinate, the soil must warm up well.
We will not dig up the ground. At intervals of 1 m, we take out pieces of turf measuring 30*30 cm. They need to be turned upside down and pumpkin seeds are planted. The grass between the rows needs to be mowed 1-2 times. When the pumpkin sprouts vines covered with large leaves, the wheatgrass will stop growing due to lack of sunlight for development. Pumpkin suppresses the weed and prevents it from conquering new territories.
Basic rules for using herbicides
It is possible to minimize the negative impact of herbicides by observing safety requirements and taking into account weather restrictions. It is not recommended to carry out the following work:
- at high temperatures more than 25 °C;
- in wet weather and immediately after precipitation;
- during strong winds;
- when there is a lot of dew.
Work using strong chemicals must be carried out in the morning or evening. Mandatory cleaning of work clothes, equipment and machinery that came into contact with pesticides. Some substances should also be taken into account regarding restrictions on the entry of livestock into areas and the flight of bees.
Reproduction methods, distribution area
Seeds form in dry weather, so it is easier for wheatgrass to reproduce vegetatively. The creeping root system is difficult to destroy. The underground parts grow over several hundred kilometers, and for germination a small piece with a living bud is enough. A healthy rhizome produces up to 50% of shoots, and if its integrity is damaged, active development begins.
The hardy plant has no dormant period and is not afraid of frost or heat. Seeds wake up at a temperature of +2 °C, at +30 °C the seedlings hatch after 2 weeks. The survivability of planting material is within 85%. When digging deeply, the underground parts die in heat of +50 °C. Dried elements come to life under favorable conditions. In winter, freezing of the roots occurs only in the upper layers (up to 7 cm).
Wheatgrass is not picky about soil quality, so it grows without problems in both black soil and acidic soil. The emerging offspring are ready for fruiting within a year. Dense thickets are an excellent environment for insects (beetles, wireworms) and fungi. The rhizomes grow in a thick layer, preventing cultivated plants from developing.
If a harmful plant has grown in a neglected area, it will move to its neighbors during the season.
Hybrids of weeds and grain crops
Why is the weed dangerous?
All weeds are extremely tenacious, but creeping wheatgrass is one of the first places in terms of harmfulness and aggressiveness.
Cord-shaped rhizomes are never at rest. Even after slight damage, the weed buds begin to grow. Moving horizontally in the soil, the roots gradually branch, rise above the surface and give rise to a new plant.
In the second half of June, the rhizomes change direction of growth, move vertically downwards, thicken, and form small tubers for wintering.
The danger of the weed lies in the difficulty of controlling it. The length of the rhizomes can reach hundreds of kilometers over an area of 1 hectare and have 250 million buds, which represent potential wheatgrass plants. On plowing they lie at a depth of about 12 cm, on dense soil - 5 cm. Their growth force is very high, the roots can penetrate potatoes, boards and other obstacles.
New cross-spectrum herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD
In 2013, the cross-spectrum herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD was registered and approved for use in Russia.
The peculiarity of the drug is that one active ingredient of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD - pyroxulam - controls both cereal and dicotyledonous weeds in wheat crops. The range of activity of the herbicide is quite wide - high efficiency is noted against wild oats, gray bristle grass, types of brome (including roofing grass), foxtail, broom, creeping wheatgrass (aerial part), white goosefoot, tenacious bedstraw, weeds of the Cruciferous family, chickweed, types of speedwell, field violet, types of chamomile. In addition, the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD has one of the best formulations to date - oil dispersion . It provides ideal coverage, rapid penetration of the active substance into plant tissue, excellent rain resistance and environmental safety.
In 2014, company specialists conducted more than 50 experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of the herbicide in various soil and climatic zones of Russia and against different weed conditions. In this article I would like to share with readers the results obtained and feedback from farms.
Biological efficiency of PALLAS™ 45, MD at a consumption rate of 0.5 l/ha, % (based on the results of three experiments). Krasnodar region, 2014
Today, weeds of the genus Coster (Bromus L.) are problematic for control in grain crops. Good effectiveness against one of the malicious representatives of this genus - the roofing fire - was obtained in the Krasnodar Territory (experimental field of the educational farm KubSAU "Kuban").
PALLAS™ 45, MD was used in winter wheat crops, the application rate was 0.5 l/ha. The experiment was carried out on a site where the weed population reached 830–850 pcs/m² at the time of treatment. The herbicide was applied in two terms: the first - in the fall, November 20, 2013 (fire phase - 2 tillering stems, wheat in the beginning of tillering phase), the second - in the spring, April 17, 2014 (wheat development phase - extension of the second node, roofing fire - in phase 2 nodes, i.e. at the time of treatment the weed has outgrown). After conducting surveys in the spring on a plot with autumn application, the effectiveness of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD was 83–85%. On the site where the herbicide was applied in the spring, on the 30th day after treatment, the effectiveness was 70%. At both periods of application, bromegrass plants were severely depressed and stunted in growth compared to the control. Some of the plants in the plots with spring application threw up a panicle, but the majority of the spikelets (about 75%) were sterile, the set grains were small and significantly smaller in size than the seeds from the control plot, from which it can be concluded that their viability was reduced.
Spring application of PALLAS™ 45, MD with a consumption rate of 0.4 l/ha against roofing fires is weakly effective - 60–65%, a consumption rate of 0.5 l/ha in the spring shows the best efficiency, at a level of about 75%.
The effectiveness of the herbicide PALLAS 45, MD against roof fire. Left - control, right - PALLAS™ 45, MD, 0.5 l/ha (35th DPO)
Based on the results of the experiments considered, the conclusions are as follows.
- To effectively control roof fires, it is necessary to use PALLAS™ 45, MD with a consumption rate of 0.5 l/ha.
- The weed plants at the time of treatment should be at the 2-stem stage (maximum mid-tillering), that is, in fields heavily infested with brome, autumn treatment is recommended.
It should be noted that today these indicators of effectiveness against roof brome among selective herbicides used in wheat crops are among the best.
Against the tenacious bedstraw PALLAS™ 45, MD worked perfectly. The assessment was also carried out on the experimental field of the Kuban educational farm; the date of processing the site was April 7. The effectiveness on the 14th day after treatment (DPO) was 65%, on the 21st DPO - 75%, on the 30th DPO the effectiveness was close to 100%; necrotic spots are clearly visible on the weed plants.
The effectiveness of the herbicide PALLAS 45, MD against tenacious bedstraw. Left - control, right - PALLAS™ 45, MD, 0.5 l/ha (35th DPO)
Efficiency of 90% was noted against the following harmful objects: odorless chamomile, caustic buttercup, cruciferous weeds . A noticeable lag in growth was also noted in plants of thistle and milkweed; deformation and chloroticity of young leaves and growing points of weeds are clearly visible.
The effectiveness of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD against odorless chamomile. Krasnodar region, 2014. Left - control, right - PALLAS™ 45, MD, 0.5 l/ha (21st DPO)
Efficiency of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD against field grass. Kaliningrad region, 2014. Left - control, right - PALLAS™ 45, MD, 0.5 l/ha (35th DPO)
The effectiveness of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD against thistle. Krasnodar region, 2014. On the left - PALLAS™ 45, MD, 0.5 l/ha (35th DPO), on the right - control.
Another indisputable advantage of PALLAS™ 45, MD is its effectiveness against creeping wheatgrass.
The effectiveness of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD against creeping wheatgrass. Krasnodar region, 2014. Effect of PALLAS™ 45, MD, 0.5 l/ha on the above-ground part (35th DPO) . Chlorotic leaf veins, stunted growth (shortening of internodes), and deformation of the weed spike are clearly visible. Efficiency against the aboveground part of the weed is approximately 65–70%.
I would like to note the excellent effectiveness of the herbicide against white goosefoot . Even on overgrown weed plants (4 pairs of true leaves), the effectiveness was 100% .
The effectiveness of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD against white pigweed. Kaliningrad region, 2014. Left - control, right - plants, PALLAS™ 45, MD, 0.5 l/ha (35th DPO)
A few words about the effectiveness of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD directly from farm specialists who used the herbicide in 2014.
Sleptsov Mikhail Mikhailovich, senior agronomist of Agrotechnologies LLC, Tambov region:
“The use of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD, 0.5 l/ha in a production trial showed better and milder protection of winter wheat crops compared to the commercial version (generic 2,4-D + florasulam). At the same time, the drug solves the problem of cereal and dicotyledonous weeds and does not cause phytotoxicity. Therefore, I can recommend it for protecting wheat crops from weeds with a mixed type of weed.”
Chechulin Denis Sergeevich, Head of the Kalina peasant farm, Kaliningrad region:
“The range of weeds in our spring wheat crops is represented by cruciferous weeds (mustard, spring grass), odorless chamomile, bedstraw, smokeweed, pigweed, white pigweed; in some fields there is spurge, changeable brome, broom, and wheatgrass. In 2014, the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD was used with a consumption rate of 0.5 l/ha - the effectiveness against both cereal weeds and dicotyledons is good and excellent. I was especially pleased with the fact that the herbicide solved the problem of overgrown white pigweed (4–5 pairs of leaves) and overgrown cruciferous weeds. Euphorbia, bromegrass, creeping wheatgrass and smokeweed were quite seriously suppressed and remained in the lower tier of crops. We will use PALLAS™ 45, MD next year too.”
To complete the picture, it should be noted that in tests PALLAS™ 45, MD showed insufficient effectiveness against self-sown poppy, green bristle grass, grass and hairy millet, field bindweed (for measures to control bindweed in grain crops, read the article “Measures for effective control of field bindweed in crops cereal grains").
No phytotoxic effect on wheat plants was observed in the experiments. There are no restrictions on the placement of subsequent crops in crop rotation after the use of the herbicide PALLAS™ 45, MD.
