Integrated Management Strategies Reduced Tall Ironweed (Vernonia altissima) Populations and Weed Biomass and Improved Tall Fescue Pasture Productivity

Abstract

Field studies were used to examine the management strategies of mowing, herbicide, fertility, and all possible combinations on tall ironweed populations, weed biomass, and pasture yield at three Kentucky locations. Mowing was performed in July 2008 and 2009, herbicide was applied in August 2008, and fertilizer was applied in September 2008 and 2009 at all locations. Weed populations were measured in 2008, 2009, and 2010, and forage grass, clover, and weed biomass was collected in May or early June of 2009 and 2010. All treatments with herbicide reduced tall ironweed stems by 64% or greater in 2009 at all locations. Mowing alone, fertilizer alone, and mowing plus fertilizer did not reduce tall ironweed populations, except at one location where mowing alone reduced tall ironweed stems by 64% in 2009. Tall ironweed stems were not reduced in 2010 with any treatment at two locations, but herbicide combined with mowing or fertilizer reduced tall ironweed stems by 78% at the other location. Tall goldenrod population was reduced up to 100% by all treatments with herbicide or mowing alone, and mowing with fertilizer reduced tall goldenrod from 59 to 89%. Treatments did not reduce horsenettle populations. Herbicide-containing treatments reduced weed biomass at all locations. Weed biomass did not differ when comparing all treatments with and without mowing or treatments with or without fertilizer. Forage grass biomass was greatest with herbicide plus fertilizer and with the combination of mowing plus herbicide plus fertilizer at all locations in both years.