Surveys present horseweed is a persistent and unpredictable foe in soybean crops

Horseweed is among the most typical and most troublesome weeds in soybean manufacturing—proven to trigger yield losses of as much as 39 p.c within the Midwest rising area. A single horseweed plant can produce as much as 200,000 seeds that may be simply unfold throughout huge distances. In addition, herbicide resistance has made horseweed more and more troublesome to manage.

In an article featured in Volume 69, Issue 6, of the journal Weed Science, researchers share findings from a large-scale research to evaluate the late-season prevalence of horseweed in 49 Ohio counties the place soybeans are grown. Surveys had been performed yearly over a interval of 5 years to find out the frequency, degree of infestation and distribution of horseweed over time and to determine important clusters and motion tendencies.

Researchers discovered there was a marked enhance in infestations over the five-year interval of the research. Horseweed was encountered in every county throughout every year of the survey—in as many as 38 p.c of fields total. Unfortunately, although, there was no distinct, 12 months to 12 months sample of distribution or motion to assist forecast areas vulnerable to future infestations.

“The surveys show the importance of vigilance and proactivity,” says Alyssa I. Essman, Ph.D., of The Ohio State University. “Based on our findings, growers can expect horseweed to persist as a common and troublesome threat to soybean yields. To reduce the frequency and impact of infestations, they will need to scout fields carefully and make horseweed control a top priority.”