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When integrating chemical and cultural <br />control, avoid using herbicide rates that <br />injure grasses because effective <br />competition will be reduced. <br />~y other control measures (set-up treatments t:ssential. Set-up treatments may <br />include chemical or m~achanical methods. <br />Cooperative research between Colorado State University and the <br />University of Wyoming showed that chemical set-up treatments were superior to <br />mowing. Curtail (clopyralid + 2,4-D), Escort (me sulfuron), and Roundup <br />(glyphosate) were used to suppress Russian knapweed. Then perennial grasses <br />were sown in late fall as a dormant seeding. Tillz,ge was done and is necessary to <br />overcome the soil residual allelopathic effects of Russian knapweed. Curtail (3 <br />quarts per acre) (A), or Escort (1 ounce/A) appli~ad at the bud-growth stage. <br />Roundup was applied twice at 1 quart/A; first at the bud-growth stage and the <br />second about 8 weeks later. Curtail controlled Russian knapweed best, <br />None of the herbicides injured seeded grasses and grasses established similarly <br />among herbicide suppression treatments, even though Russian knapweed control <br />varied. However, where Escort or Roundup was used to suppress Russian knapweed, <br />additional herbicide traaatments will be necessary to achieve acceptable control. <br />While two mowings, 8 weeks apart (first. at bud-growth stage), suppressed <br />Russian knapweed during that year, the weed recovered vigorously the subsequent <br />season. Perennial grasses established in the movaing treatments but much less than <br />in herbicide treatments. Two mowings per year for several years may control <br />Russian knapweed bel3er, but further research is needed to test this hypothesis. <br />Currently, no biological control is available for Russian knapweed. <br />Chemical control. In most circumstances, a herbicide alone will not <br />effectively manage Russian knapweed. However, there may be situations where a <br />land manager believes that the population of desirable plants in a Russian <br />knapweed infestation may be sufficient to compote effectively with the weed if it is <br />stressed with asingle-weed management technic{ue. <br />Russian knapweed is controlled with Tordon 22K (picloram) at 1 to 2 <br />quarts/A). Tordon may be broadcast sprayed up to 1 quart/A but one can spot <br />spray at rates up to 4 quarts/A. Tordon plus 2,4-D (I to 1.5 pints + I quart/A) <br />also will control Russian knapweed. If low rates of Tordon or Tordon plus 2,4-D are <br />used, application for two consecutive years may be necessary to achieve adequate <br />control. Apply Tordon anytime the weed is actin ely growing. The Tordon label <br />prohibitr seeding perennial grasses the same year this herbicide is applied. <br />Telar (Chlorsttlfuron) is a non-crop herbicide that controls Russian <br />knapweed, but application timing is critical. Apply (I ounce/A) when Russian <br />knapweed is in the bloom to post-bloom stage. 1=artier applications do not control <br />the weed effectively. Fall is a good time to apply Telar, but it may injure smooth <br />brome or other brome species iF they are present. Always add a good agricultural <br />surfactant at 0.25 to I).5% v/v to the spray solution. Escort (Metrulfuron) is labelled <br />for pasture/rangeland use. Apply it at 0.75 to I ounce/A with a good agricultural <br />surfactant. Optimum timing for Escort application to control Russian knapweed is <br />similar to Telar. <br />Cultural control. Russian knapweed tends to form monocultures and <br />usually eliminates other plants. Therefore, sowing desirable plant species is <br />necessary after the we>,ed is controlled. Smooth I~rome will compete with Russian <br />knapweed. Our cooperative revegetation research shows that streambank <br />wheatgrass, thickspike wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, and Russian wildrye <br />established after Russian knapweed was suppre~;sed with herbicides. <br />If the Russian knapweed stand is not too old and grasses are still present, <br />stimulating grass growth by irrigation (where possible) should increase grass <br />competition with knapweed and keep it under continual stress. <br />' H. George, Beck, Colorado state University Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts o(May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation <br />Cooperative Extension weed specialist and with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Milan A. Rewerts. Director o(Cooperative Extension, <br />associate prolessor, bioagricultural sciences Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. Cooperative Extension programs are available to all <br />and pest management. without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of <br />products not mentioned. <br />Figure 1: Russian knapweed. <br />