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INDEPENDENCE —
This noxious weed is a problem on grazing lands in Kansas since it is unpalatable to cattle and competes with desirable grasses and forbs. Controlling sericea lespedeza has proven to be unusually difficult, but a combination of practices that include well-timed herbicide applications can be effective.
After sericea has flowered and up until the first freeze, metsulfuron (marketed under Escort, Ally, Cimarron, and other trade names) is the herbicide of choice for control. Metsulfuron can control sericea even through seed fill, unless the plants are under drought stress. Managers should control the plants before mid-seed fill, however. If the sericea has already formed viable seeds when it is treated with the herbicide, the seeds can germinate the following year and spread the problem.
Grasslands with sericea lespedeza infestations should not be grazed or hayed after the sericea has gone to seed to prevent spreading seed to other areas.
Controlling sericea is mulit-year process to any control measures will need followup to maintain effectiveness Spraying remaining plants next in June when the plants are in a vegetative growth stage with Remedy or PastureGard at the labeled rate.
For more information about this or other livestock topics please contact livestock agent Keith Martin at (620) 784-5337 or you can email rkmartin@ksu.edu.
Wildcat Extension District also offers programs in Family Consumer Science, 4-H & Youth, horticulture and other ag topics. For more information and contacts for specific concerns go to our website http://www.wildcatdistrict.ksu.edu You can also access our relevant, research based information by following us on twitter at https://twitter.com/Wildcat_Ext or liking us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Wildcat.Extension.District
This noxious weed is a problem on grazing lands in Kansas since it is unpalatable to cattle and competes with desirable grasses and forbs. Controlling sericea lespedeza has proven to be unusually difficult, but a combination of practices that include well-timed herbicide applications can be effective.
After sericea has flowered and up until the first freeze, metsulfuron (marketed under Escort, Ally, Cimarron, and other trade names) is the herbicide of choice for control. Metsulfuron can control sericea even through seed fill, unless the plants are under drought stress. Managers should control the plants before mid-seed fill, however. If the sericea has already formed viable seeds when it is treated with the herbicide, the seeds can germinate the following year and spread the problem.
Grasslands with sericea lespedeza infestations should not be grazed or hayed after the sericea has gone to seed to prevent spreading seed to other areas.
Controlling sericea is mulit-year process to any control measures will need followup to maintain effectiveness Spraying remaining plants next in June when the plants are in a vegetative growth stage with Remedy or PastureGard at the labeled rate.
For more information about this or other livestock topics please contact livestock agent Keith Martin at (620) 784-5337 or you can email rkmartin@ksu.edu.
Wildcat Extension District also offers programs in Family Consumer Science, 4-H & Youth, horticulture and other ag topics. For more information and contacts for specific concerns go to our website http://www.wildcatdistrict.ksu.edu You can also access our relevant, research based information by following us on twitter at https://twitter.com/Wildcat_Ext or liking us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Wildcat.Extension.District
