Kochia

Kochia (Kochia scoparia)

This weed has consistently been one of the top three worst weeds in ND, MB, KS and SD. It is a highly competitive weed. It emerges throughout the production season during cool periods in early spring or later with warm temperatures and good moisture. It can have a significant impact on yield and is a great producer of seed. It has developed resistance to ALS herbicides which complicates the control strategies in sunflower.

Control Strategies

1. Good control of Kochia in the previous year's crop

2. Use a burn down up to emergence

3. Spartan has excellent Kochia control and can be used in reduced and no till systems

4. Eptam, Prowl, Sonalan and Trifluralin control of Kochia are rated as fair

5. Beyond¹ and Express² have excellent control but will not control resistant ALS Kochia

6. Between row cultivation is best when Kochia is small

7. Between row cultivation or hooded sprayer with herbicide application

Links of Interest

Kansas State University Dept of Agronomy

NDSU Crop Production and Marketing

South Dakota Pest Management Guides (sdstate.edu)

Footnotes

(1) Beyond herbicide is specific to CLEARFIELD® hybrids only. Clearfield hybrids have been developed with a resistant gene to Beyond herbicide. Applying Beyond herbicide on non-Clearfield hybrids will result in extensive damage.

(2) Express herbicide is specific to ExpressSun® hybrids only. ExpressSun hybrids have been developed with a resistant gene to Express herbicide. Applying Express herbicide on non-ExpressSun hybrids will result in extensive damage.

Glyphosate and Aim are labeled for between row hooded sprayer applications.