How Johnsongrass came to America and spread
LANCASTER Farmers
have been debating the
origin of rhizome John
songrass in meetings across
Pennsylvania for many
years, but few dispute the
legendary ability of this
yield-robbing weed to make
farming a losing proposition
when left uncontrolled.
There are many theories
as to how Johnsongrass, now
rated one of the world’s ten
worst weed problems, was
first introduced to the United
States. Some say it was
imported from Europe,
along with other grasses, by
American farmers.
Others believe that a man
named James Davis-sent to
Turkey by the State Dept.-
brought back Swiss watches
packed for protection in
Johnsongrass seeds. But,
nobody knows for sure.
Once here, this noxious
weed was spread rapidly
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through various means.
Seedmen regularly sold
Johnsongrass seed to
farmers who planted it for
hay. “Johnsongrass hay”
was a staple of cavalry
horses during the Civil War
who in turn spread the seeds,
which were dispersed in the
hay, across the country via
their digestive tracts.
Additionally, hay was
frequently shipped by rail
from one encampment to
another, and the seeds often
escaped from the box cars to
infest right-of-ways.
In any case, this tough-to
control perennial has
emerged as one of the far
mer’s most difficult weed
menaces. And, according to
Sheldon Blank, Technical
Supervisor and weed control
specialist from Monsanto,
this is in large measure
attributable to its primary
means of reproduction.
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“The laterally-growing
underground rhizome
system of Johnsongrass can
produce over 200 feet of new
rhizome growth in a single
season from one rootstock,
and send up shoots con
tinuously if left untreated
and undisturbed,” Blank
explains.
“Johnsongrass competes
with planted crops for light,
moisture and nutrients. In
addition, the rhizomes can
act as host to toxic sub
stances and diseases such as
maize dwarf mosaic and
maize chloratic dwarf,
which .are common in
Johnsongr ass-infested
com,” he continues.
“These diseases can result
m stunted com plants and
dwarfed ears in non
resistant varieties. ”
Blank says it takes only 21
days for seedling John
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guidelines), Furnish
unloading help, Participate
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f 1 Down payment,
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convenience Also note travel
expenses will be added if your
building site is more than
40 miles from the sales
office No sales tax need be
added (Price expires April 15,
1980 ) The price shown
below is for the building
and its construction only
and does not include a grain
storage liner package
54 x72' erected storage buridmg includes
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songrass to develop
rhizomes.
“If the infestation is
severe enough, rhizome
Johnsongrass can overtake a
field in as little as three
years, possibly costing
growers an entire harvest,”
he contends.
Yield losses of 50 percent
or more in heavily-infested
fields are not unusual, he
states.
On top of its ability to
reproduce through an ex
tensive rhizome system,
Johnsongrass pamcles have
also been shown to be
prolific seed producers.
“Each panicle is capable
of producing as many as 350
seeds,” Bbnk observes.
“And, to iiake matters
worse, the seeds can remain
viable m the soil for up to 25
years, representing a con
stant source of reinfestation
problems.”
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 12,1980—C27
While cultural practices
such as crop rotation may
slow the progression of
Johnsongrass in a given
field, the weed control
specialist notes that the
rhizomes are likely to
continue flourishing.
“In general, research has
shown that chiseling and
discing give effective
mechanical control of
rhizome Johnsongrass
because shortened rhizomes
dry out and die faster when
brought up to the soil sur
face. This practice,
however, can also generate
more widespread week
infestations by spreading
localized infestations over
an entire field,” he cautions.
In the area of chemical
control options, Blank notes
that contact herbicides have
shown the ability to “bum
down” Johnsongrass plants
to the soil surface The
drawback, he feels, is that
the rhizomes can still
flourish and send up new
shoots m a matter of weeks
to produce an equally heavy
infestation.
“Most farmer plaqued
with Johngrass infestations
know that the only wav to
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make their fields productive
again is to destroy those
underground rhizomes, and
that is no easy task,” Blank
believes.
“For instance, soybean
producers and farmers with
late-planted corn may fmd
that they have actively
growing Johnsongrass
reaching the boot-to-head
stage of growth in time to
apply Roundup prior to
planting in the spring,” he
continues. “Once applied,
the chemical reaches the
weed’s rhizome system by
penetratmg leaf and stem
surfaces and translocating
down mto the rhizomes,
preventing regrowth from
this underground network.”
A recommended seedling
control program should also
be employed.
While the origins of
Johnsongrass remain
something of a mystery,
area farmers don’t make
much of a secret of their
desire to eradicate this
noxious weed from their
acreage. And, with a con
sistent program of control
measures, they may be able
to do just that.
\JOHW DCEW J
LANDIS BROS. INC.