In the heart of Serbia, a quiet revolution is taking place in the fields of Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje, where Senior Research Associate Milan Brankov is unraveling the secrets of an invasive plant species that’s been causing quite a stir in Balkan crops. The culprit? Cut-leaved gipsywort (Lycopus exaltatus L.), a rhizomatous species that’s been quietly encroaching from non-cultivated areas into agricultural fields, and it’s not going down without a fight.
Brankov and his team have been grappling with this tenacious plant, which has been increasingly popping up in row crops, previously only found along field edges and irrigation channels. “It’s a sneaky one,” Brankov explains, “It spreads through its rhizomes, and it’s been a challenge to control it effectively.” The stakes are high, as this invasive species can significantly impact crop yields and, consequently, the agricultural industry’s bottom line.
To tackle this issue head-on, Brankov and his colleagues evaluated 11 commonly used herbicides in greenhouse studies, aiming to identify the most effective option for cut-leaved gipsywort control. The results, published in the journal ‘Weed Technology’ (known in English as ‘Tehnologija korova’), are promising and could shape future weed management strategies.
The study revealed that bentazon, the only nonsystemic herbicide tested, was the least effective, requiring a dose 1.5 times the recommended rate to achieve a 90% reduction in dry biomass and canopy cover. On the other hand, dicamba proved to be highly effective, with no regrowth observed at the field-use rate.
But the real game-changers are halauxifen-methyl and imazamox. These herbicides showed remarkable efficacy, with estimated effective doses (ED90) well below the recommended rates. “With both halauxifen-methyl and imazamox, we saw no regrowth even when we applied just half of the recommended labeled rates,” Brankov reveals.
While reduced rates aren’t recommended due to good herbicide stewardship practices aimed at preventing herbicide resistance, these findings open up new avenues for managing cut-leaved gipsywort and potentially other invasive species. The research could pave the way for more targeted and effective weed control strategies, ultimately benefiting the agricultural industry and, by extension, the energy sector that relies on these crops.
As Brankov and his team continue to delve into the intricacies of cut-leaved gipsywort and its response to herbicides, one thing is clear: this is just the beginning. The insights gained from this study could very well shape the future of weed management, ensuring that our fields remain productive and our crops secure. After all, in the ever-evolving world of agriculture, knowledge is the most powerful weapon against invasive species.