Cultural
Control of Leafy Spurge
(Euphorbia esula)
Sheep
and Goats: Grazing with sheep and goats will provide an
alternative to herbicides in controlling leafy spurge growth.
Grazing
alone will not eradicate leafy spurge growth, it will however reduce
the infestation, and allow grasses to be grazed by cattle and
horses. Sheep and goats are best suited to control leafy spurge
infestations
along waterways or in large areas. Sheep should be grazed 3-6
head per
acre. (1)
Tilling
(Plowing): Cultural
control of leafy spurge includes
properly timed cultivation and/or planting of competitive grass
species. A nonchemical control method such as cultivation is
desirable to prevent the rapid establishment of leafy spurge in
cropland, especially in limited tillage areas. Two types of
tillage
programs are used for spurge control, intensive tillage through the
growing season and cultivation only in the fall. The intensive
cultivation program should begin in the spring, two to 4 inches
deep.
Cultivation should continue every three weeks until
the soil freezes in the fall for one to two growing seasons. The
tillage schedule should
not be interrupted because leafy spurge recovers quickly from the
effects of cultivation. Pieces of roots as small as 0.5 inch long
and
0.1 inch
diameter can produce new shoots. Root pieces also will survive
two or
three
hours of
drying in the hot sun.
A second
option is to cultivate when the plants
are 3 to 6 inches tall post harvest. (2)
Hand
Pulling: Hand pulling is only effective if the population
consists of just a few plants. In addition, the milky latex in spurge
can be irritating to the skin. (2)
Controlled
Burning:
Controlled
burning of leafy
spurge has been experimented with in North Dakota
and Wyoming.
Burning has little effect on established plants with deep root systems
but it
is effective in reducing seed and seedling viability. Burning
against
the wind
results in more complete combustion and hotter fires. But, keep
in mind
that
consuming the organic matter and exposing the soil surface may promote
more
weeds, especially if used repeatedly. (3)
Seeding/Reseeding: Some
perennial grass species can effectively
compete with leafy spurge and provide control. The most
competitive
grasses
include wheatgrass, wildrye, and smooth brome. Leafy spurge top
growth
reduction
averaged 70 to 80 percent in trials conducted at Fargo
and Jamestown. (3)
Mowing:
Mowing
every
two to four weeks will reduce seed
production and prevent new infestations to neighbors’ properties.
However,
mowing will not provide little long-term control. (2)
Links:
1) http://www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/weedsinfo/Euphorbia_escula.htm
2)
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/weeds/management/MgtLeafySpurge.htm
3) http://www.team.ars.usda.gov/v2/ipmls.html
4) http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/03107.html
5) http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/weeds/w866w.htm
6) http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/weeds/fba02s00.html
7)
http://www.northern.edu/natsource/NOXIOU1/Leafys1.htm
8) http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/weedfeeders/spurgia.html
9) http://www.coffeycountyks.org/serv_weed7.html
10) http://www.npal.ndsu.nodak.edu/SPURGE.htm
Bibliography:
1) North Dakota State
University Integrated management of Leafy Spurge Page. Leafy Spurge-Euphorbia
esula L. [Online] Available http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/weeds/w866w.htm February 24, 2006.
2) Larimer
County Colorado
Leafy Spurge Main Page. Euphorbia
esula L. [Online] Available http://www.co.larimer.co.us/weeds/management/MgtLeafySpurge.htm
February 24, 2006.
By:
T. Woodbury, WHS Student, 3/2006.
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