Sand burrs and wire grass

[CircleJAcres]

With the rising cost of renting ground I picked up a small field that has not been tilled for several years.  It is sandy ground full of sand burrs/wire grass.  I planted Teff grass last summer after spraying to kill the burrs and had beautiful Teff.  However, the sand burrs are back.  I was told I should spray for the burrs and wire grass and yeah you guessed it, plow it under.  We still plow some here.  Any thoughts or advice.  I'm trying to reduce the trips across the field especially with fuel cost. 

[clayton58]

My first thought is beans and repeated roundup applications.  If your in an arid area you mail need to fallow and plant wheat in fall. Use tillage or roundup to control grasses till planting time.  Maybe an early oat (hay) crop. be sure to hay it before the burs seed out.

[CircleJAcres]

I plan on putting sorghum in.  Then a cover crop of barley in the Fall.  Just didn't know if I should plow this to get the grass under good.

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Here are some comments on controlling sandbur with herbicide:

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/weeds/longspined_sandbur.htm

http://www.weeds.iastate.edu/NCWSS/NC05/013.pdf

It looks like this is a real challenge.  If you search online, you'll have better luck with the preferred spelling sandbur.

[dennist49740311]

Need advice in a similar vein. This city dweller just moved to 5 acres near  Fallon, NV. Not much grows here mostly sand burs and a little brush. The water and the soil are over ph 8.5. I'm in a dry lake bed. It appears that barley may succeed here. Please suggest if that's a viable option to help hold the soil (sandy and windy). If barley then which strain and should I mix it with another plant? Thanks, Dennis

[JimMeade]

You might get some help from the Churchill County University of Nevada Extension program.  They could refer you to people and programs that address your questions.

Some Extnesion Agents are real jewels and some are a little less than helpful, but if you persevere I'm sure you'll find someone that can help.

Another option if you are just trying to stabilize your soil is the local USDA NRCS office.  They may not have the answers but may know people who do.

Good luck.

[javarlucious]

if you persevere Speed Test Scrabble Word Finder Solitaire I'm sure you'll find someone that can help.