This is one in a series of articles on invasive species in Nebraska by the Nebraska Extension Invasive and Resistant Pest Issue Team. Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) is a concept to identify potential invasive species prior to or as they are becoming established. An Integrated Pest Management plan (IPM) can be developed to manage, contain and eradicate the invasive species before it spreads to avoid costly, long-term control efforts.
This article on marestail focuses on its management in pasture and rangeland.
Marestail / Horseweed
a.k.a.: Canadian horseweed, Canada fleabane
Scientific name: Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Marestail, also known as horseweed, is a native annual forb. With the advent of no-till farming practices and repeated use of glyphosate products, marestail has become glyphosate-resistant and a major weed problem in corn and soybean production areas. Marestail is also resistant to some ALS inhibitor (amino acid synthase) and PPO (cell membrane disruption) herbicides.
In recent years, marestail has increased in the pastures and rangeland of the Panhandle and Sandhills. It is speculated that the reason for the increase is due to the cool wet springs we have had, causing an increase in seed germination. It is not understood why some plants may seem to be cyclical in their growing patterns. While these plants may not be glyphosate resistant, ranchers are concerned they are losing valuable grazing due to this plant.
Questions that need to be answered about marestail in grazing situations are:
- Does the high density of marestail in the pastures and rangelands affect desirable forage?
- Does a high density of marestail discourage grazing? Do some herbicide applications after early May still have an effect on controlling marestail?
- Will it be profitable to conduct herbicide applications to manage this weed in rangeland.
Description
Origin: Native throughout much of North America. Numerous Native American peoples used the plant to treat various ailments.
Ecology and Habitat: Marestail is a winter and summer annual. It reproduces and spreads by seed. Seed viability is generally two to three years, but some studies have found seed viable after 20 years in pastures. The seed does not need a dormancy requirement to germinate. Seeds germinate on or near the surface of the soil and form a rosette. Seed is generally spread by the wind. Mature plants bolt and form a series of seed heads and have a tap root system.
Marestail can grow in height from one to six feet or taller. Total seed production is proportional to plant height with taller plants producing up to 230,000 seeds. Marestail can be found in grasslands and disturbed sites, including riparian areas. The plant is adaptable to a broad range of soil conditions and types.
Marestail contains tannic acid, gallic acid, and volatile oils that may cause skin and mucosal irritation in animals and humans, especially horses. Marestail also contains allelopathic chemicals, which can inhibit germination and growth of several other plant species. Herbicide-resistant biotypes have developed over the years.
Management
Herbicide applications for marestail in pastures and rangeland may be most effective if applied in very early spring from April through early May.
Having well-established grasses and forbs on a well-maintained pasture or rangeland with proper grazing and rotational grazing techniques helps minimize the plant’s impacts. Scouting, monitoring and proper identification are key factors for management. Infestations and spread of this weed can occur very rapidly.
Pulling or cultivating small marestail plants can be an effective control method, as long as the plants are young, before they bolt and form seed heads, and if the area affected, is small. Mowing after the bolt stage but prior to or at flowering can help reduce seed production and reduce seed spread.
Since marestail can germinate in the fall or spring, selection of the proper herbicide for the given situation is important. Use of herbicides is a costly option, unless infestations are localized and small. The cost of an herbicide application may not yield the economic benefits desired. Herbicide applications will only have an effect for one growing season. Spring applications of herbicides for marestail may be better, especially if applied in very early spring from April through early May. After early May, herbicide efficacy drops off. Marestail treated in the fall with products that do not have any soil residual activity will not control plants that germinate the next spring. Marestail plants should be in the seedling to rosette stage and no larger than five leaf stage for effective control. Plants not effectively controlled will still produce seed. Careful consideration of the use of herbicides must be made. Use of these herbicides may injure other beneficial forbs and plants in the pasture / rangeland ecosystem and not have an effective cost benefit.
When applying pesticides
- Select a product labeled for the site.
- Read, understand, and follow all label instructions when using any pesticide.
- Create an Integrated Pest Management plan (IPM) combining different control strategies to manage marestail and promote the desired plant community you want.
Some herbicides that have shown to have some control or suppression of marestail include 2,4-D ester, aminopyralid (Milestone), dicamba, triclopyr + fluroxypr (PastureGard HL), clopyralid (Stinger), chlorsulfuron (Telar XP), picloram + 2,4-D (Graslan L – Restricted Use Pesticide). Using tank-mix combinations of products may enhance control. Combining products with different modes of action will help reduce herbicide resistance.
Consult the specific herbicide label for instructions on how to treat marestail/horseweed for timing of application and rates. It is important to follow the product label unique to each individual herbicide. When the herbicide label allows, the use of a non-ionic surfactant may improve control.
There are no biological control measures for marestail at this time.
Be sure to select a product labeled for the site. Read, understand, and follow all label instructions when using any pesticide. Create an Integrated Pest Management plan (IPM) combining different control strategies to manage marestail and promote the desired plant community you want.
References
Shrestha, A., Hembree, K., Wright, S., “Biology and Management of Horseweed and Hairy Fleabane in California”, University of California, Publication 8314, September 2008
Weaver, S. E., “The Biology of Canadian Weeds. 115. Conyza canadensis”
Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, May 2001
USDA / NRCS Plant Profile, “Canadian Horseweed, Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist”
