
Weed Watch: Kochia
- // Weed Management
Kochia
Kochia is one of the earliest summer annual broadleaf weeds that germinates in the spring — and it continues to germinate throughout the growing season.1

Kochia is notorious — for being a troublesome weed across the Great Plains and western U.S1,2
This problematic weed is known to reduce soybean yields by 30%3
Young Plants
Distinguishable by their small rosette shape, young plants also have lance-shaped, pale green leaves that are covered in hairs.4
Mature Plants
Kochia can grow to a bushy plant, up to 6 feet high.1,5
Seed Pain Points
Seeds are numerous as — each plant can produce up to 30,000 SEEDS, which can germinate at shallow depths within 2-3 hours and stay viable in the soil for up to two years.1,6
Keys to Managing Kochia1, 2
Rotate crops
to diversify herbicide programs and weed control strategies.
Start clean
with a burndown herbicide or tillage.
Apply a pre-emergence residual application,
using a residual product within 2 weeks before planting or prior to crop emergence.
Apply a postemergence application to target small weeds early,
before weeds grow taller than 4 inches.
Prevent Seed Production.
If weeds escape, use tillage or physically remove them before plants produce seed.
1 Take Action. United States Soybean Board (Oct. 21, 2019). Kochia. Retrieved from http://www.iwilltakeaction.com
2 CropLife Staff, CropLife Media Group (September 13, 2017). 5 keys to managing kochia in soybeans. Retrieved from http://www.croplife.com
3 Kumar, V. Jha, P., Jugulam, M., Yadav, R., Stahlman, PW. (2019). Herbicide-resistant kochia (Bassia scoparia) in North America: A Review. Weed Science 67:4-15. doi: 10.1017/wsc 2018.72
4 University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (Oct. 21, 2019). Kochia (kochia scoparia). Retrieved from http://www.ipm.ucanr.edu
5 Lym, R., North Dakota State University (September 2018). Identification and control of invasive and troublesome weeds in North Dakota. Retrieved from http://www.ag.ndsu.edu
6 Schwinghamer, T.D., Van Acker, R.D. (2008). Emergence timing and persistence of kochia (kochia scoparia). Weed Science 56:37-41
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