Beech Tree News Network

Have you ever thought about the origins of various weeds? I chose several weeds that are common around these parts and decided to research.  Www.meriam-webster.com defines Johnson grass as a tall, perennial sorghum (sorghum halepense), originally of the Mediterranean region.  It is widely used for forage in warm areas and often becomes naturalized as a weed.  The origin is from William Johnston, an 1859 American agriculturalist.  Its first known use is in 1884.
Www.dictionary.com defines jimson weed as a coarse, rank smelling weed of the night-shade family.  It has oak-like, poisonous leaves and tubular white or lavender flowers.  It originate from 1805-1815 Americanism: a variation of Jamestown weed of Jamestown, West Virginia.
Pigweeds (Amaranthus) are erect summer annual plants that germinate from seeds in late winter through summer.  Several species occur, but the most common is redwood pigweed.  Seedlings of all common pigweeds are similar.  Cotyledons (seed leaves) are long and narrow and often red underneath.  Prostrate pigweed forms dense mats, has dark green leaves with distinctive light colored edges, and often pink or red tinged stems.  Tumble pigweed is bushy with light green leaves.  Tumble pigweed (top, left) flower clusters only grow between the stem and leaf stalks, rather than in spikes as found in other pigweeds such as palmer amaranth The single-seeded fruit are tiny capsules, roughly less than 1/17 of an inch (1.5 mm) long and open around the middle by a cap-like lid to release the seed.  Seeds are round, roughly 1/25 to 1/17inches in diameter, glossy and dark reddish brown to black.  In general, pigweeds reproduce by seed. In low amaranth, new shoots can grow from upper portions of a taproot and crown that remain in the soil after cultivation.  It’s origin is from 1795-1805.
Bermudagrass is a creeping perennial warm-season (C-4) turfgrass. Bermudagrass spreads by both rhizomes and stolons. Bermudagrass is grown as a fine turf throughout the transition zone and in the South. The ligule consists of a fringe of hair. Auricles are absent. The leaves of bermudagrass are folded in the bud, and the sheath is strongly compressed. The leaf is short, approximately 1/8-inch wide with rough edges. The roots of bermudagrass are deep and fibrous allowing it to be highly drought tolerant. The stolons root at the nodes forming a thick dense mat. The seed-head of bermudagrass consists of 3 - 7 finger-like spikes. Seed heads are present during the summer months. Common bermudagrass can spread by seed, but hybrid varieties only spread by vegetative means. Bermudagrass is found on open sunny areas. Bermudagrass does not grow in the shade. It can be found in turf, landscapes and in most cultural crops. Bermudagrass is very tolerant of low mowing, and can be found on both dry and wet soils. Bermudagrass thrives in southern areas of the United States, south into the tropics. It can also be found in northern sections of the transition zone. 
Pastures planted in Bermudagrass require more maintenance than many other warm season grasses. Many of these fields have been vegetatively planted with hybrid Bermudas which produce more forage and hay material than the common Bermuda does. It is important to remember that Bermuda that is seeded for lawns was developed for those particular characteristics and the forage industry is still behind on the seeded varieties. Vegetative hybrids require more in the management process but are still the largest in production forage value for serious ranchers and farmers.
For the person needing a basic pasture for low maintenance the common Bermudagrass can be their answer. It will still need fertilizing to realize full potential and added nutrients for better quality grass. Rotational grazing also helps extend the pasturage. The improved forage cultivars selections are also excellent choices (Ranchero Frio, Cheyenne).
Pasture Fertilization requirements need to be met for the best results in any planting unless you live in the most fertile land on earth and even then you will eventually need supplements of some kind to maintain quality forage. Soil tests are the best indicators to the actual amount of necessary components you will need to apply. The rate can be anywhere from 250 - 450+ lb. per acre in a year. All amounts of fertilizer and additives will be determined by the usage of the crop. Hay cuttings will naturally demand more fertilization and a different schedule than grazing pastures. Climate impacts upon the amount and timing of application.
Yearly fertilization on pastures should be conducted after soil testing, Haying requires fertilization to get the most cuttings, spurring growth and increase sod density at the same time. Better fertilization scheduling is needed to improve nutritive value and lessen the need to supply additional feeds. Pastures need approximately 100-300lb/A and up to 100 LB/A and 0-100 if P2O and 0-120 of K2O yearly depending upon your soil. Amounts for haying purposes will be different depending upon how many cuttings are taken. Soil pH should be nearest to 5.5 and above.
Pastures that are cut for hay will need fertilizer after each cutting to promote the heaviest amount of growth possible. This should be followed by mowing or grazing and yearly burns if weeds become a problem. Mowing, burning yearly or applications of weed control may be another management practice. Overseeding with cool season forage grasses or crops where the weather permits extends grazing seasons.

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Hello.  My name is Andy Sullivan.  I received my bachelor’s degree in business from Mid-Continent University in June 2009.  I began writing for beechtree in July 2009.  I enjoy writing, photography, watching basketball and football, and playing guitar.  I also write a blog that encompasses sports and entertainment, called Sports and More, at http://andyuk79.tumblr.com If you have any comments, please leave them in the space below.  Thanks for reading!