(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

How do weeds stay green

jon f mn

jon f mn

Well-known Member
Most all hay and grass is brown here now and the corn is not far behind. The weeds don't have any problem staying green. Wonder what it is that keeps them green when all around them is brown. And why can't the breed that trait into food crops? Just my thoughts for the day.
 
As long as we have humid wet weather the weeds I pull in the garden and turn upside down, roots in the air, they still stay green.
 
Weeds are amazing things . My fields are burnt to a crisp and the only thing thats green are kochia plants
 
My friend just mentioned that the other day. with all there technology and genetically modifieds, why have they not made them to grow on dry gravel piles already. He was saying he had a small pile dumped on his yard and has not spread it yet and it's the only green and growing plants around.
 
Many types of weeds have long roots that go down deep into the soil so as to get to where the water is where as most grasses have shorter roots os less likely to get to the water
 
old has the primary answer. Tap root systems are a common feature of many plants we call weeds. In many cases removing the plant top, even the growing node at the junction between up and down, will result in the tap root sprouting a new plant. Jim
 
Some of what we call weeds is considered a food crop in other parts of the world. Nutsedge and Quinoa(Pigweed) come to mind.
 
My belief is their main purpose is to reproduce like the fescue grass which turns brown after it makes its seeds. Weeds here die out and turn brown after they produce.
 
My lawn stays green. Instead of grass we have a green weed that is producing tons of hay this time every years. No fertilizer, no weed killer, just tons of hay.
When neighbor was alive, he cows started calling for him to give them fresh green salad.
 
In the grass category we have some like bluegrass and others that naturally go dormant in hot weather ...then there is the old prairie grasses. Switchgrass, indiangrass, bluesstems have drought tolerance built into them. They flourish in hot weather with very little rain. Not many fields around but if you see them this time of year , they will still be green in drought areas. Neighbor had some prairie grass he made into hay, his cattle went for it before any other species every time.
 
Yup, grasses have short but very many roots that mine the surface of a thin soil of nutrients. Their defense to droit is to be able to go dormant and survive a long slumber period.

Broadleaves tend to have a deep tap root and follow the moisture down and keep finding water so they stay green and growing, but if the ground dries out deep then they die as they cant survive in a dormant mode.

There are exceptions to this, making the fun selection of grasses and broadleaves for different soils and climates.

Paul
 
Interesting thought, I'm loving it. I just mowed the same field today for the third time this year. Stan
 
What I love is when you pull some weeds and leave just a small root hair covered with some soil the plant will still develop seeds. Weeds are built for survival for sure.
 
If you got weeds , you got excessive nutrition in the soil , not using a mix of cover crops , bingo weed feast in there to use it up .
 
(quoted from post at 05:27:12 07/21/21) A good alfalfa stand will stay green! Mark.
Click to expand...

I've been told that a well established alfalfa plant can run a taproot down several feet into the soil.

There's nothing magical about why weeds stay green. They have evolved over hundreds or thousands of years by "survival of the fittest" so what's out there is the hardiest and strongest.

Cultivated crops are just the opposite. We do everything we can to ensure "survival of the weakest." Fertilization. Herbicides. Pesticides. Fungicides. Eliminate competition, all in the name of yield. Then when there is any competition, or stress, the plants drop like a glass jawed prize fighter...
 
I believe it really is related to their life cycle vs. grass's life cycle. And yeah, I've seen a long tap root on alfalfa go down 4ft-my Dad dug down and gave up after 4ft. Mark.
 
centuries of natural selection, survival of the fittest. we've been breeding hybrid corn since the 1930's, a little behind mother nature.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Rain killing crop
Replies
8
Views
1K
THinAl.
THinAl.
Bruce from Can.
September Hay
Replies
14
Views
404
Bruce from Can.
Bruce from Can.
WI Dan
frustrated...brush mowing breakdowns
2
Replies
20
Views
910
WNYBill
W
R
How to cut up a round bale
2
Replies
23
Views
861
Traditional Farmer
T
F
What gives
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
dhermesc
D
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top