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The Biology and Integrated Management of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) on North Dakota Rangeland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Rodney G. Lym
Rodney G. Lym*
Affiliation:
Plant Science Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105
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Abstract

Leafy spurge, a long-lived perennial, grows in many habitats, from floodplains to grasslands and mountain slopes. The plant emerges in early spring and produces showy, yellow bracts that appear in late May. The true flowers emerge in mid-June. The plant spreads by both seeds and roots and contains a white sticky latex that deters grazing by many animals. Dicamba, 2,4-D, glyphosate, and picloram have commonly been used to control leafy spurge. Picloram plus 2,4-D is frequently used for leafy spurge control in North Dakota. Ten insect species for leafy spurge biocontrol have been released in North Dakota; the most successful have been the flea beetles, Aphthona nigriscutis, A. czwalinae, and A. lacertosa. The leafy spurge gall midge (Spurgia esulae) has been most successful near wooded areas. Herbicides combined with either the leafy spurge flea beetles or gall midge have controlled leafy spurge better than either method used alone. Grazing with sheep or goats is a cost-effective method for controlling leafy spurge top growth in large infestations. Grazing combined with fall-applied picloram plus 2,4-D reduced leafy spurge density more rapidly and maintained control longer than either method used alone. Several grass species are competitive with leafy spurge including ‘Rebound’ smooth brome, ‘Rodan’ western wheatgrass, ‘Pryor’ slender wheatgrass, and ‘Manska’ pubescent wheatgrass. Cultivating twice each fall after harvest for 3 yr in cropland completely controlled leafy spurge. A successful long-term management program should be designed for specific situations and should include combinations of herbicides, insects, grazing, and/or seeding competitive species.

Keywords

2,4-D, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic aciddicamba, (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid)glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl)glycinepicloram, (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid)smooth brome, Bromus inermis Leyss. ‘Rebound'western wheatgrass, Pascopyrum smithii Rydb. ‘Rodan'slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners ‘Pryor'pubescent wheatgrass Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski ‘Manska'leafy spurge gall midge, Spurgia esulaeleafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. #3 EPHESNoxious weedbiocontrolintegrated pest managementgrazingculturalchemicalEPHESMAT, months after treatment
Type
Symposium
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , June 1998 , pp. 367 - 373
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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