Gorchak creeping: photo, fighting measures

Gorchak creeping (pink) is a perennial plant of the Astro family, which has a reputation as an extremely dangerous weed. Gradually capturing the territory on which he settled, the gorchak displaces his cultural neighbors, significantly reduces their yield, as well as the quality of the soil. This is a real thunderstorm of agricultural lands and gardens, with the emergence of which are struggling in many countries. In Russia, gorychak refers to a group of quarantine objects, the spread of which is established by special control.

general characteristics

In English-language sources, this weed is often found under the name "Russian knapweed" (russian knapweed). And indeed, outwardly the bitter creeper, the photo of which can be considered below, is very similar to some kinds of cornflowers. Usually the plant reaches a height of up to 75 cm. Its branching stems with numerous oblong leaves are crowned with dark pink flower baskets, blossoming in July and blossoming until August.

Gorchak creeping - a plant quite unpretentious. It loves warmth and light, very resistant to drought. Its roots can grow to a depth of more than 10 meters and feed on moisture that is not available to other plants. In addition, this weed perfectly tolerates soil compaction and accumulation in it of harmful salts: carbonates, chlorides, sulfates. The only thing that does not like gorchak - this is a bay of soil, so it does not grow in rice fields.

Distribution and reproduction

Homeland gorchaka is considered to be Central Asia. From there, he landed on the North American continent, gradually spreading to Canada and the United States of America. The plant was also brought to Europe - the centers of its growth are on the territory of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Poland, Germany and other countries. An insidious weed even got to Australia! The only mainland, where today the bitter is not found, is Africa. In Russia, it occurs mainly in the southern and southeastern regions, most often in the steppe zone. It grows on cultivated and uncultivated land, in meadows, in orchards, pastures and settlements.

The weed has a powerful root, which is a vertical rhizome, from which grow horizontal shoots. It reproduces both seeds and vegetatively - through the development of rhizomes and root shoots. For a year, one plant can spread to a territory of up to six square meters. Growing bitter bitter creepers, that is, dense thickets - from a few tens to hundreds of stems per 1 square meter.

Biological features and harm

Due to its root system, the gorchak has the ability to absorb from the soil several (two to five) times more nutrients than other plants. Many cultures are hard to resist the onslaught of a gluttonous neighbor - the soil is dried up and becomes unsuitable for growth. Therefore, developing, the bitter takes from 50 to 80% of the territory, displacing other species.

In addition, the plant is poisonous! Its roots are phenol derivatives, which accumulate in the soil and contribute to the deterioration of crop growth. The above-ground parts of the bitter extract organic substances that inhibit the development of neighboring plants. Even if the crops manage to bear fruit next to this weed, the quality of the products obtained deteriorates sharply. For example, if in the crop of grain seeds of bitterness occur in the amount of 0.01% by weight, the flour produced from such raw materials will turn out to be of poor quality because of bitterness.

The toxins contained in the weed render it unsuitable and dangerous for animal nutrition. Milk cows, in whose food got the bitter, gets a bitter taste. And for the life of horses, the bitter creeper can be a threat!

What is the reason for the complexity of the struggle?

Gorchak is deservedly considered one of the most difficult to weed plants, since it has the ability to wait for a period of unfavorable conditions at rest. When the soil is drained or the area where the bitter grows has been plowed, its ground parts are dying, as well as the roots located directly under the ground. However, deeper roots retain their ability to live for several years, and when normal conditions return, the plant begins to actively revive.

Thunderstorm of farmland

Farmers sound alarm and believe that the bitter can pose a threat not only to food, but also environmental safety. It is very difficult to fight against it, so task # 1 is to prevent its occurrence and spread. One of the ways of clogging the soil with a bitter is to get its seeds together with the seeds of cultivated plants, so it is important to sow the soil with clean material. To this end, Rosselkhoznadzor experts, in the framework of phytosanitary inspection, conduct inspections of grain and seeds transported and imported to Russia for the presence of gorchak seed.

However, preventive actions are not always enough, so periodically there are new areas, clogged by this plant. The detected focus should be localized, and subsequently completely exterminated within it, the bitter creeper. Measures to combat it are different: agrotechnical, biological and chemical. These include soil plowing and pruning of the root system, as well as cultivation of certain crops in the contaminated area. It is often necessary to resort to the use of chemicals that are sprayed in a contaminated area. However, the key to success is the integrated application of the above methods!

How to fight alone?

From what has been said above, it is clear that alone it is extremely difficult to resist this weed. What should a man do if he finds this ill-fated plant in his orchard? The struggle with the bitter creeper in the suburban area includes a number of activities that should be carried out in a complex. Single copies must be removed manually, including underground parts. If there are thickets of bitter, they must be completely mown prior to the beginning of flowering. Before preparing the soil for sowing, it must be carefully plowed, cutting the roots of the plant as deep as possible. The same is recommended in late autumn. If the site is not yet mastered, it is better to do the procedure several times. Cropped roots should be selected and destroyed. However, it is possible that the above measures will not be enough and soon the bitter will again begin to attack the site.

It's all about the repeatedly mentioned root system, which allows the weed to regenerate even after 3-4 years. To completely defeat the bitter bitter, it is additionally recommended to use chemical substances - herbicides "Roundup" and "Hurricane". It is better to treat them in a warm and dry, but cloudy autumn evening, when the whole crop is already harvested. The method of application is simple enough and reduces to spraying the stems with a solution of the drug. It is described in more detail in the instructions for the specific herbicide. Probably, for complete destruction of the harmful plant, the treatment with chemicals will have to be repeated several times.

In conclusion, we recall that the bitter is a quarantine weed, and when it is discovered, it is necessary to inform the local department of the Rosselkhoznadzor! For failure to comply with this requirement, established by law, you can get a fine - this applies to both legal entities and ordinary citizens!