Bindweed
Fall control of bindweed
Field bindweed is a deep-rooted perennial weed that severely reduces crop yields and land value. This noxious weed infests just under 2 million acres across Kansas. Bindweed is notoriously hard to control, especially with a single herbicide application. Late fall prior to a killing freeze can be an excellent time to treat field bindweed especially when good fall moisture has been received. This perennial weed is moving carbohydrate deep into its root system during this period, which can assist the movement of herbicide into the root system.
The most effective control program includes preventative measures over several years in conjunction with timely herbicide applications. Use of close row spacings and vigorous, competitive crops such as winter wheat or forage sorghum may aid control.
Dicamba, Tordon, 2,4-D ester, and glyphosate products alone or in various combinations are registered for suppression or control of field bindweed in fallow and/or in certain crops, pastures, and rangeland. Apply herbicide or herbicide mixture according to directions, warnings, and precautions on the product label. Single herbicide applications rarely eliminate established bindweed stands.
Applications of 2, 4-D ester and glyphosate products are most effective when spring-applied to vigorously growing field bindweed in mid to full bloom. However, dicamba and Tordon applications are most effective when applied in the fall. Most herbicide treatments are least effective when applied in mid-summer or when bindweed plants are stressed.
Paramount at 5.3 to 8.0 oz/acre can be applied to bindweed in fallow prior to planting winter wheat or grain sorghum with no waiting restrictions. All other crops have a 10-month preplant interval. Paramount can be used on a sorghum crop to control field bindweed during the growing season.
Additional noncropland treatments for bindweed control include Krenite S, Plateau, and Journey.
Considerable research has been done on herbicide products and timing for bindweed control. Although the research is not recent, the products used for bindweed control and the timing options for those products havent' changed much since this work was done. As a result, the research results in the charts remain very useful today.
