Missouri Ruralist logo

Overgrazed pastures after drought lead to increased weed pressure.

March 21, 2019

2 Min Read
dairy cows grazing in green pasture
MORE THAN GRASS: Cows may be grazing on weeds this summer as many areas saw overgrazed and drought-stressed pastures.

Weed problems may explode this year thanks to the drought of 2018 and residual problems associated with overgrazing in parched pastures, University of Missouri Extension agronomist Valerie Tate says.

Last year's extreme weather conditions created a forage shortage. As a result, many pastures were overgrazed.

When pastures are overgrazed, there is little green leaf material left to make sugars for plant growth, Tate says. When more than half of the aboveground plant material is removed, root growth slows or even stops. Weakened root systems reduce the ability to take up water and nutrients.

"Overgrazed pastures provide an opportunity for weeds to fill in the open spaces left when the forage is grazed short and plant roots are stunted," Tate says.

Develop a plan

A cooperative program between Natural Resources Conservation Services and MU Extension provides forage and livestock producers an opportunity to get technical help to design grazing plans that give pastures periods of rest. These rest periods make pastures stronger and healthier.

Well-rested pastures let more water into the soil and allow plants to have more vigorous root systems. Deep root systems and large carbohydrate stores help forages resist environmental stresses such as drought.

Check soils

Proper soil fertility also helps reduce the encroachment of weeds in pastures. Over a two-year period, MU Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley and his students surveyed 46 Missouri sites every two weeks from April through October.

They found that 80% of the pastures surveyed showed low or very low soil phosphorus levels. Thirty-seven percent presented low or very low soil potassium levels. Soil pH averaged 5.8.

When pH increased by one unit, total weed density shrank by more than 4,000 weeds per acre. Common ragweed and lanceleaf ragweed dramatically decreased when pH increased. Yellow foxtail also fell significantly.

If annual weeds such as ragweed and foxtail are problems in pastures and hayfields, improving pH, phosphorus and potassium levels may be more beneficial than controlling weeds with herbicides, Tate says.

Perennial weeds such as horsenettle and ironweed are more effectively controlled with herbicides.

Source: The University of Missouri Extension, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like