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| Weed Management Plan |
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| Thursday, 09 March 2006 | |||||||||||||
Page 4 of 11 Scientific name: Euphorbia esula Common name: Leafy Spurge Updated 07/2002 A. PRIORITY #2 B. DESCRIPTION Native to Europe and temperate Asia, leafy spurge currently is found throughout the world with the exception of Australia. It was probably introduced into the United States as a contaminant in imported grain. Since its introduction, the plant has become a serious management problem, particularly for the north and central plains states. Leafy spurge is adapted to a wide range of soil moisture conditions from moist to dry. However, it is especially aggressive in very dry situations where competition from native species is less intense. Areas most sensitive to leafy spurge infestation include pastures, roadsides, abandoned fields, railroad ballasts, disturbed and undisturbed mesic to dry prairies, and possibly open natural communities such as savannas. It emerges in the early spring when temperatures still fluctuate around freezing. After 4-6 weeks, each stalk may produce and disperse over 200 seeds with a germination rate of 60-80%. The root system of the plant is very extensive. Some roots may penetrate to a depth of 12 feet. Even if the foliage of the plant is removed or destroyed, the living root tissue will regenerate new shoots, and the new shoots can emerge from buds located anywhere along the length of the root. C. CURRENT DISTRIBUTION ON THE SITE SEE APPENDIX 2, MAP #3 D. DAMAGE & THREATS If leafy spurge becomes well established, it will threaten mesic to dry prairies. Forbs and native grasses can be completely displaced by leafy spurge in a few years if the infestation is left unchecked and untreated. E. GOALS The major goal the MNWAG wants to accomplish is to lessen the economic impact caused by leafy spurge by eradicating small stands and reducing, then controlling, larger stands. F. OBJECTIVES (Measurable) (Establish measurable objectives for the planned control activities. Include: 1. the impact on numbers, density, cover, etc. that you want to achieve; 2. the size of the area in which you hope to achieve this; 3. the period in which you hope to achieve it. For example you may state your objectives in terms of reducing percent cover of the species by 50% over an area of 5 acres within 3 years. Another possible objective would be eliminating the species from the site within 2 years.) G. MANAGEMENT OPTIONS *We will work with the four county Weed Superintendents on control of leafy spurge, employing their individual management practices.* Viable control options are: (1) CHEMICAL – Several chemicals have been used for leafy spurge control. These include picloram, 2,4-D, dicamba and glyphosate. Picloram is thought to be the most effective; but, due to its expense, it is often mixed with 2,4-D to treat large infestations. The most effective time to apply the herbicide is mid- to late June when the true flowers (not the bracts) begin to appear. The second spray application should be made early to mid-September when fall regrowth has begun but before a killing frost occurs. (2)PRESCRIBED BURNING AND HERBICIDING – Fire in conjunction with herbicides may be more effective than either method alone. Burning stimulates vegetative growth, making the plant more vulnerable to herbicides. Plants can be sprayed with 2,4-D in autumn (September) and burned the following spring (April). This should be followed by another 2,4-D treatment in June and a fall burn in October. The process may have to be repeated many times. (3) BIOLOGICAL – H. ACTIONS PLANNED (Treatments and monitoring) (Briefly describe the locations to be treated, materials and methods to be used, and an approximate schedule for control and monitoring activities. If several methods are to be tested, outline the design of the planned experiment or demonstration.) I. HOW ACTIONS WILL BE EVALUATED (Criteria for success) SEE APPENDIX 4: Examples of data collection forms. J. RESOURCE NEEDS SEE APPENDIX 3: Weed Management Plan Tables K. RESULTS OF EVALUATION (This section is to be filled in later, preferably within 1 year, when monitoring data has been taken and evaluated, at least preliminarily. The evaluation should be used to determine whether any of the sections B-K above should be modified.) |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 13 March 2006 ) | |||||||||||||
