Weeds: Kochia

The resilience of kochia is the reason why it's at the top of the weed control list for corn and soybean growers in the western and northern Great Plains regions. Well-suited for the conditions of these regions, kochia can thrive in the cold, early season as well as the hot, dry conditions and soil types found in this part of the U.S.

Its ability to reproduce and germinate make this weed particularly threatening as well. Producing up to 30,000 seeds per plant, a kochia plant — depending on its location — can begin to emerge in late winter (February) or early spring (March) with germination lasting long into the later part of summer (August). Early emerging kochia can reduce soybean yields significantly, by 70% or more depending on the conditions. A dense and wide growing plant, it can stifle the growing environment of a competing crop.

Resistance to multiple sites of action is a reality for kochia with some extreme cases demonstrating resistance to four herbicide modes of action. The development of herbicide-resistant kochia is growing quickly due to high genetic diversity, short seed life and overreliance on certain herbicide classes. And due to kochia’s seed dispersal mechanism, commonly known as tumbleweed, weed seed from resistant plants can make its way into fields that have been properly managed in the past.

Help keep your fields clean of kochia this year and beyond with these tools and insights.