Safeguard Your Acres Against Kochia
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A summer annual broadleaf weed, kochia is problematic and quickly reproduces — making it hard to manage effectively. Additionally, some kochia populations have been found with resistance to at least four herbicide groups: Group 2 (ALS inhibitors), Group 4 (synthetic auxins), Group 6 (photosystem II inhibitors) and Group 9 (EPSP synthase inhibitors).1 To stay vigilant in safeguarding fields against kochia, check out these facts and management tips.
Fast Facts on Kochia
- Mature kochia plants grow up to 7 feet tall, with an extensive root system that can extend 15 feet deep into the soil and 21 feet in diameter.1
- Young kochia plants may be confused with lambsquarters seedlings. To identify young immature kochia, look for highly branched growth patterns with hairs occurring along the leaf.
- Adult kochia plants can produce up to 30,000 seeds.1
- The weeds spread via a “tumbleweed” mechanism, meaning a mature stem will detach from its base and then be blown by the wind.
- Seeds do not remain viable in the soil for an extended period, but they exhibit a high initial germination rate. Under favorable conditions, seeds initiate germination within two or three hours and seedlings establish quickly.1
- Heavy infestations of kochia are known to cause as much as 70% yield loss in row crops. The plants also can interfere with harvest by getting tangled up in machinery.1
- Kochia can be found in a very wide range of temperatures and climatic regions, but it particularly adapts to arid and semiarid regions. It can be found in soils with high salinity and in areas with as little as 6 inches of annual rainfall.2
- According to the International Herbicide-resistant Weed Database, herbicide-resistant kochia has been found in 20 states. In addition, the weed has shown resistance to herbicides in noncrop areas like railways, roadsides and industrial sites in Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Utah.
Control Tips
Because most kochia seeds do not live for more than a year, preventing seed production for a single year will significantly help reduce infestations in following years. Germination occurs early in the season, making control methods most effective in early spring before the seeds have set.
- Start each spring with tillage and/or a burndown herbicide application to control kochia.
- Apply the burndown shortly after the first flush of kochia has emerged.
- Following the burndown, consider using a program approach that includes preemergence and postemergence applications with multiple modes of action and residual activity.
- In corn, a good preemergence choice is Resicore® REV herbicide followed by a timely postemergence application of Kyro™ herbicide.
- In soybeans, Sonic® Boom herbicide or Kyber® Pro herbicide is an excellent preemergence option and can be followed with Enversa™ herbicide for residual kochia control on any soybean variety.
- For Enlist E3® soybeans, applying Sonic® Boom herbicide or Kyber® Pro herbicide preemergence followed by a postemergence mix of Enlist One® herbicide and glufosinate can be a powerful program against kochia.
- It’s important to note that kochia is very adaptable to hot, dry conditions. In drought or dry weather conditions, the weed can develop a thick cuticle around the leaves, which makes it harder to absorb herbicides. Using the right adjuvants can help combat this issue.
- Rotation between grass and broadleaf crops also can help control kochia. Winter wheat is highly recommended for suppressing the weed.1
Consult your local Corteva Agriscience representative for more insights on kochia management in your area.
1United Soybean Board. 2023. Kochia. https://iwilltakeaction.com/weeds/identification/kochia/
2Casey, P.A. 2009. Plant Fact Sheet for kochia (Kochia scoparia). https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_kosc.pdf
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