Background:
Kudzu, Pueraria lobata, is a vine native to Asia, specifically parts of Japan and Southeast Asia. It grows at a rate of one foot per day until maturation (when it reaches approximately 100 feet long). It was introduced in the US during the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 for its ornamental qualities to shade homes and for erosion control. In 1930, the Soil Conservation Service identified Kudzu as a helpful to for soil erosion. For this reason, the vine was planted throughout the South of the United States. At the time, no one would have expected such a beneficial and exquisite plant to be such a menace.
The semi-wood vine grows rapidly and out of control. It spreads through runners, rhizomes, and vines that form in new plants. Often, Kudzu is known as "mile-a-minute" and "the vine that ate the South" because it can easily take over areas very easily.
Kudzu has been spreading in the US at a rate of 150,000 acres every year. The ecosystem in Asia was able to control the spread of the vine, however, in the US, the growth is unstoppable.
To view incredible photos of kudzu growing on homes, barns, vehicles, signs, and other areas, visit http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/
Kudzu, Pueraria lobata, is a vine native to Asia, specifically parts of Japan and Southeast Asia. It grows at a rate of one foot per day until maturation (when it reaches approximately 100 feet long). It was introduced in the US during the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 for its ornamental qualities to shade homes and for erosion control. In 1930, the Soil Conservation Service identified Kudzu as a helpful to for soil erosion. For this reason, the vine was planted throughout the South of the United States. At the time, no one would have expected such a beneficial and exquisite plant to be such a menace.
The semi-wood vine grows rapidly and out of control. It spreads through runners, rhizomes, and vines that form in new plants. Often, Kudzu is known as "mile-a-minute" and "the vine that ate the South" because it can easily take over areas very easily.
Kudzu has been spreading in the US at a rate of 150,000 acres every year. The ecosystem in Asia was able to control the spread of the vine, however, in the US, the growth is unstoppable.
To view incredible photos of kudzu growing on homes, barns, vehicles, signs, and other areas, visit http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/
Harmful Effects:
As Kudzu grows larger and larger, it is able to out-compete native plants and damage entire forested areas. The cost of controlling these vines is increasing by $6 million annually as their growth easily outpaces moving and herbicide spraying. In the Southeast, Kudzu overpowers other plants by blanketing leaves, breaking branches, or uprooting entire trees. It has formed a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, allowing for large leaves and high photosynthetic rates. |
Potential Future Dangers:
The economic cost of maintaining Kudzu ranges from $100-500 million yearly. It has become an issue in National Parks as Kudzu has invaded hundreds of acres of land. Since it is a "structural parasite," it grows on buildings and other plants such as shrubs and trees. Over time, it blocks the sun's rays, which could be detrimental and reduce photosynthetic productivity. Kudzu can root when stems touch the soil, which allows its vines to grow in all directions. Moreover, after a vine is rooted, it looses connections with other vines and becomes independent. This makes it much more difficult to treat or remove the population of Kudzu's in the Southeast. Overall, Kudzu can be a fierce and powerful plant, intruding upon other plant species and filling space by covering inanimate objects. The invasive species costs millions of dollars and is impossible to control. |
Solutions:
Many solutions have been contemplated to address the spread of Kudzu.
Mechanical approaches include mowing or cutting the vines. However, these approaches are time consuming and require physical work. Because of their fast growth rate, vines would have to be mowed or cut every month (which would be very expensive) and then destroyed, to prevent regrowth.
Chemical approaches include controlling Kudzu with the use of herbicides (Ex. Tordon and Picloram). A limit to using herbicides is that they are only effective during growing season (June-October). Also, a study concluded that the herbicide would be needed for up to 10 years to fully control the vines. Additionally, soil solarization uses solar heating to kill the roots of the plant. This can be beneficial despite the cost, as it avoids the use of chemicals that could inadvertently affect other species.
Biological approaches include insect herbivory and seed predation that would limit the growth of Kudzu. However, the most effective way to control the growth of Kudzu is naturally. Wild goats and sheep can consume Kudzo; by eating this plant every day, animals themselves can reduce the effects caused by Kudzo. This approach is also safe and does not harmfully affect other species.