- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
Growers (mainly pistachios) and crop consultants in the southern and western parts of the San Joaquin Valley have recently reported the spread of alkaliweed from low-lying saline or alkaline soils (including seasonal wetlands and floodplains) into irrigation ditches, orchards, and some agricultural fields (Figure 1).
Now, some of you may be asking 'What is alkaliweed?'
Alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) is a native, perennial plant in the morningglory family (Convolvulaceae), the same family of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and dodder (Cuscuta spp.). The species has a prostrate to ascending growth habit, rarely exceeding a foot in height. The species produces grey-green,...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
NOTE: A graduate student at CSU Fresno is looking to describe the geographic distribution of alkaliweed in California. Please see the end of the article for a link to a QUICK survey describing where YOU have encountered this species.
Growers (mainly pistachios) and crop consultants in the southern and western parts of the San Joaquin Valley have recently reported the spread of alkaliweed from low-lying saline or alkaline soils (including seasonal wetlands and floodplains) into irrigation ditches, orchards, and some agricultural fields.
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
The foundation of an effective extension program is an understanding of needs. Although I have worked in California, previously (2012-2017), as a weed scientist with the University of California – Davis, most of my time was spent in specialty crop systems (trees and vines, processing tomatoes, and melons). Consequently, I entered my current position as an Agronomy and Weed Science Advisor less familiar with the concerns and requirements of the agronomic crop industry. Although I expect that issues such as the water availability and quality, soil health, varietal improvement, and effective pest management practices are of significant interest to my clientele, I engaged in a needs assessment to define and rank the expressed...