Creeping mustard (pink) is a perennial plant of the Astrov family, which has a reputation as an extremely dangerous weed. Gradually capturing the territory on which it settled, the mustard crowds out its cultural neighbors, significantly reduces their productivity, as well as the quality of the soil. This is a real thunderstorm of agricultural land and gardens, the emergence of which are struggling in many countries. In Russia, mustard belongs to the group of quarantine objects, the distribution of which is under special control.
general characteristics
In English sources, this weed is often found under the name "Russian cornflower" (Russian knapweed). Indeed, outwardly, the creeping bitterness, the photo of which can be viewed below, is very similar to certain types of cornflowers. Usually the plant reaches a height of up to 75 cm. Its branched stems with numerous oblong leaves are crowned with dark pink flower baskets that open in July and bloom until August.
Creeping mustard - the plant is 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, which is inaccessible to other plants. In addition, this weed tolerates soil compaction and the accumulation of harmful salts in it: carbonates, chlorides, sulfates. The only thing that mustard does not like is the bay of soil, therefore it does not grow in rice fields.
Distribution and reproduction
The homeland of mustard is considered Central Asia. From there, he came to the North American continent, gradually spreading to Canada and the United States of America. The plant was also brought to Europe - foci of its growth are in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Poland, Germany and other countries. The insidious weed has even reached Australia! The only continent where no bitterness has been discovered to date is Africa. In Russia, it is found mainly in the southern and southeastern regions, most often in the steppe zone. It grows on cultivated and non-cultivated lands, in meadows, in gardens, on pastures and in settlements.
The weed has a powerful root, which is a vertical rhizome, from which horizontal shoots grow. It propagates both by seeds and vegetatively - through the development of rhizomes and root shoots. In one year, one plant can spread over up to six square meters. The mustard grows creeping with curtains, that is, dense thickets - from several tens to hundreds of stems per 1 square meter.
Biological features and harm
Due to its root system, mustard tends to absorb several (two to five) times more nutrients from the soil than other plants. It is difficult for many cultures to resist the onslaught of a voracious neighbor - the soil is dried up and becomes unsuitable for growth. Therefore, developing, mustard occupies from 50 to 80% of the territory, displacing other species.
In addition, the plant is poisonous! Its roots secrete phenol derivatives, which accumulate in the soil and contribute to the deterioration of crop growth. The aerial parts of the mustard secrete 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 resulting products deteriorates sharply. For example, if the grain yield contains mustard seeds in an amount of 0.01% by weight, then the flour produced from such raw materials will turn out to be of low quality due to bitterness.
The toxins contained in the weed make it unsuitable and dangerous for animal nutrition. Milk of cows, which got mustard in their food, gets a bitter aftertaste. And for the life of horses, creeping bitter can even be a threat!
What determines the complexity of the struggle?
Gorchak is deservedly considered one of the most difficult to eradicate weeds , since it has the ability to wait out a period of adverse conditions at rest. When the soil dries up or the territory where the mustard grows has been plowed, its ground parts, as well as roots located directly underground, die. However, deeper roots retain the ability to live for several years, and when normal conditions return, the plant begins to actively revive.
Thunderstorm farmland
Farmers are sounding the alarm and believe that mustard can pose a threat not only to food but also environmental safety. Fighting him is very difficult, so task number 1 is to prevent it from appearing and spreading. One way to contaminate the soil with mustard 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, specialists of the Rosselkhoznadzor, in the framework of phytosanitary control, check the grain transported and imported to Russia for the presence of mustard seed.
However, preventive actions are not always enough, therefore, new territories periodically appear clogged by this plant. The detected focus must be localized, and subsequently completely destroy the creeping mustard within it. There are different measures to combat it: agricultural, biological and chemical. These include plowing the soil and pruning the root system, as well as cultivating certain crops in the clogged area. Often you have to resort to the use of chemicals that are sprayed on a clogged area. However, the key to success is the integrated application of the above methods!
How to fight on your own?
From the foregoing, it is clear that to resist this weed alone is extremely difficult. What should a man do if he has discovered this unfortunate plant in his garden? The fight against creeping mustard on a summer cottage includes a number of activities that should be carried out in the complex. Single copies must be removed manually, including its underground parts. If thickets of mustard are found, they must be completely mowed before flowering begins. 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 has not yet been developed, it is better to do the procedure several times. Cropped sections of the roots must be selected and destroyed. However, it is quite possible that the above measures will not be enough and soon the mustard 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 creeping mustard, it is additionally recommended to use chemicals - the Roundup and Hurricane herbicides. They are best treated on a warm and dry, but cloudy autumn evening, when the entire crop has already been harvested. The method of use is quite simple and comes down to spraying the stems with a solution of the drug. It is described in more detail in the instructions for a specific herbicide. It is likely that chemical treatment will have to be repeated several times to completely destroy the harmful plant.
In conclusion, we recall that mustard is a quarantine weed, and when it is discovered, it is necessary to inform the local branch of the Rosselkhoznadzor! For non-compliance with this requirement established by law, you can get a fine - this applies to both legal entities and ordinary citizens!