The Union County Journal

New Chemical Found To Kill Quackgrass In Farmers' Fields

TCA-a new chemical weed killer-offers the best means for eliminating small patches of quackgrass in farm fields, says Dr. C. J. Willard, professor of agronomy at Ohio State University.

Trichloroacetic acid, commonly called TCA, has given satisfactory results in killing quackgrass in Ohio since 1947. Although there is still much to be learned about its use, Dr. Willard believes many farmers may be interested in trying it this year.

He says plowing the quackgrass and working the sod down as for seeding and then applying the TCA to the soil is the best method to use. This procedure has given near complete eradication from approximately 50 pounds per acre of the commercially available TCA sodium salt.

Treatment appears to be most effective when the soil is moist and offers good growing conditions. If it is applied on dry soil, there will be no killing-effect until rain carries it into the soil.

Dr. Willard adds that no practical rate of applying TCA will eradicate quackgrass in one treatment. Retreatments or plowing, disking and cultivation will be necessary to finish the job.

While TCA will also kill Johnson grass, nimblewill and Bermuda grass, there is no satisfactory method yet developed for applying it to Johnson grass. Bermuda grass and nimblewill can be killed by methods similar to those for quackgrass.

TCA is applied as a spray in a water solution. One pound per gallon is considered a satisfactory application. Research men are still not positive as the time of year which is best for spraying quackgrass.