Perennial. Flowers bloom in late-spring to early
summer, forming yellow berries containing seeds that shrivel in the fall. The
aboveground plant tissue dies back after a frost.
Emergence:
Seeds germinate well within 1-inch of the soil surface. Very
few plants emerge from seeds at depths of 4-inches or greater. Two-thirds of
roots (6-inches long) buried 18-inches below the soil surface can produce new
shoots; emergence decreases at greater depths.
Reproduction:
Mode(s) of Reproduction:
Reproduces by seed and vegetative reproduction of new shoots
from creeping roots.
Dispersal Mechanisms:
The berries, with seeds inside, are eaten by
animals and then deposited. Berries that are not eaten drop to the ground.
Longevity:
Under laboratory conditions seeds remain viable
for at least 7 years.
Dormancy:
Some of the seeds of horsenettle are dormant at
the time of dispersal in the fall. This dormancy is broken by the following
spring.
Competitiveness:
Horsenettle established for one year prior to planting
snapbeans reduced yields by 18 to 20%. As the length of establishment increased
so did yield reduction, with yields reductions of 48 to 65% in snapbeans
competing with three year old horsenettle plants. Horsenettle has also been
shown to reduce yields in peanut by up to 40%. In addition to being a good
competitor with crops, horsenettle is poisonous to livestock.
Preferred Soil/Field Conditions:
Can grow in a variety of soil types, though it prefers a
sandy or gravelly textured substrate.
Management:
Biological
Predation/grazing:
No information.
Decay: No
information.
Mechanical
Tillage:
Tillage at any depth can increase the spread of
horsenettle.
Rotary Hoeing:Not effective.
Flaming: Not effective.
Mowing:
Mowing early in the season encourages horsenettle
growth; mowing later in the season decreases growth.
Cultural
Crop rotation:
No information.
Planting date:
Most likely will not affect horsenettle
infestations.
Chemical
Application timing and effectiveness: Very few herbicides are effective at controlling horsenettle. Sequential herbicide applications are necessary for control.
