invasive johnsongrass in mississippi

Invasive Johnson Grass In Mississippi
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Invasive Johnson grass In Mississippi
Abstract
Over 100 years ago Johnson grass was introduced in Mississippi as a forage crop, but it’s currently an invasive weed and landowners as well as the managers are trying all the means possible to destroy it. Before the grass became invasive, it was thought to have potential benefit to the rural families. Johnsongrass is one of the hardy and fast-growing weed which is invasive, and it is spreading in the southeast. Despite it being hard to defeat, chemical control, tillage, as well as re-establishment of cover crops which are desirable, can be used to battle it. The growth, as well as the sturdy root system of the Johnson glass, makes it look like an excellent forage, and it was even used for stabilization of soil in some places. The grass is often seen in roadside as well as in pasture, and it appears as if it has no stem but only leaves. It mainly grows in patches which are circular with very little or no vegetation interspersed. One of the primary identified features of the grass is its fleecy white seed which it produces in the spring season.
Introduction
Johnson glass is one of the perennial grasses which mainly produce rhizomes, and it is primarily known for creating dense stem stands which are up to 6 feet above from the ground. The nodes which are along the stem of the Johnson glass are hairy, but the internode is mainly smooth. The leaf bland of this grass is primarily about 25 long in term finch as well as an inch wide.

They are predominantly covered by long hairs which are dense on the upper side of the surface. The sheath margin of this glass are hairless, or they may have hair particularly along the edge as well as in the margin. This glass is mainly known as “Sorghum halapense” scientifically. Initially, it is introduced primarily as fodder in the 1800s. Johnson glass was found mostly in those fields which are cultivated, abandoned filed, juvenile timberlands, rights-of-way and finally in the hayfield. This type of lens can result in cyanide poisoning to livestock (Vencill, 2016).
Methodology
Biological method
There is no natural method which is known for controlling Johnson grass. However, the best way of reducing its population is continual grazing by mainly foraging animals at a high rate of the stocking. Nevertheless, Hogs consume the rhizomes of the grass (Vencill, 2016).
Chemical method
There are many effective herbicides for controlling Johnson grass. Some of these herbicides either require a nonionic surfactant or crop oil, particularly for the proper result. Thus, herbicides should be mainly applied when the grass is growing, and it should not be affected by an adverse condition of the environment it (Newman & Team, 2012).
Mechanical controls
There is no known automatic control of controlling Johnson grass. However, in some infestation, mowing can be done even though it does not eradicate the weed. Also, hand-removal of Johnson grass in vegetable or the landscape can be feasible.
Result Analysis
The grass is a big problem in the waste places, roadsides, prairies, and fields. It forms dense stand which replaces the native vegetation which is surrounding. Though the grass can be applied as a forage crop, there is caution which should be taken since it can result in Cyanide poisoning. While in the roadside, the height of it can mainly obstruct visibility (Vencill, 2016). Finally, Johnson grass is lenient of wide physical condition range though, and it does not tolerate deep shade.
Discussion of Johnson glass
Preventing this type of grass from being established in new areas is one of the best control methods available since the weed is mainly known for its spread in multiple ways. During the summer season, Johnson grass can be principally controlled by repeated tilling in some few weeks. Also, the rhizomes of the grass freeze out in the winter which mainly helps in controlling infestation in the fields. Grazing hogs, as well as goat, also assist in controlling as long physical factors do not stress the weed. Before the grass is well established as well as spread over in the entire agricultural field, it is regarded as the critical time to kill it (Newman & Team, 2012). To those sites with the established infestation, an application of Touchdown or in another case roundup will particularly kill developing rhizomes as well as the emerging tissues. In addition to that, grazing or mowing closely for more than one year will make the grass weak as well as stunted and finally, rhizomes appear concentrated on the surface of the soil.
Conclusion
Despite the widespread of the Johnson glass, special measures need to be applied thoroughly to eradicate it. Therefore, several chemical herbicides, as well as cultural practices, need to be used effectively to control the germinating seed, established plants, and seedling. Some of the objectives of good control should include;
Control of the new infestation as soon as they appear.
Weakening as well as killing the some of the existing rhizomes.
Destroying seedling mainly before the formation of the rhizomes.
Prevent the production as well as the spread of seed.
Reference
Newman, D., & Team, G. I. S. (2012). Sorghum halepense. The Nature Conservancy, Global Invasive Species Team. http://wiki. Bogwood. Org/Sorghum_halepense, accessed April 12, 2012.
Vencill, W. K. (2016). On the Cover: Glyphosate-resistant Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense L.), Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina.