Kochia

Biological Name:

Kochia: Kochia scoparia

Natural Habitat:

Kochia: The natural habitat for Kochia is in fields, roadsides, and waste areas in North and South America.

Description:

Kochia is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Chenopodiaceae family which also includes plants such as lamb’s quarters and pigweed. Kochia is an annual or perennial plant that produces small green or brown flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas kochia is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is kochia used for?
A: Kochia is used by wildlife for food and cover. It can be hayed or grazed directly for livestock feed. Kochia can be planted for soil erosion control and bioremediation of some contaminated sites. It is used in some Asian cultures for food and in some parts of Europe and Asia it is planted for making brooms.
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Q: Can kochia grow in India?
A: 1Kochia (botanical name is Bassia scoparia): This plant is red or green in colour. In India, the green version is found. Type: This is an ornamental plant and usually grows from March to July.
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Q: Will goats eat kochia?
A: Answer. Powell says goats will eat poison ivy, poison oak, honey suckle, kochia, dandelions, buckbrush, kudzu, dogwood, sumac and bindweed.
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Q: Can you eat kochia?
A: Kochia leaves and growing tips are edible cooked. The plant is very salty tasting. Seeds are also a garnish called tonburi with a texture similar to caviar. In fact it is called “land caviar,” “field caviar,” and “mountain caviar.” In Japan tonburi is a delicacy.
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Q: Is kochia indoor plant?
A: They like to grow in sunny areas which have a soil pH of 6 to 7. If you plan to make a hedge using Belvedere, then line the seedlings up about 20 cm (8 inches) apart. If you first plan to grow Kochia indoors, then they should be started about two months before they are due to be transplanted outside.
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Q: What animals eat kochia?
A: Kochia may provide good forage quality when the plant is young, however, the forage quality declines as the plant matures. The value to wildlife is shared by many species. Deer and pronghorn eat the foliage; seeds are consumed by songbirds and upland game birds.
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Q: Is kochia good to feed to cows?
A: Kochia has good energy and protein content, so it can be a useful feed but should be less than half of the diet. Like hay, kochia’s nutrient value and feeding recommendations depend on its maturity.
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Q: Do cows like kochia?
A: Kochia can, however, be harmful or toxic to cattle if it comprises a large portion of the diet. It contains a number of toxic substances including saponins, alkaloids, oxalates and nitrates. Animals that consume large amounts of the weed may exhibit a range of health problems and have lower rates of gain.
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Q: What season does kochia grow?
A: Kochia is a summer crop. It grows well in Summer season.
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Q: What is kochia allergy?
A: Symptoms: Itchy, stuffy, or runny nose; post-nasal drip; sneezing; itchy, red or watery eyes; asthmatic symptoms.
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Q: Is kochia invasive?
A: However, kochia’s ability to sprout in poor soil and grow even in drought conditions soon turned it into an invasive weed throughout much of the United States, especially in the Plains states.
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Q: What kills kochia plant?
A: Herbicides that will control kochia effectively include fluroxypyr (sold under the trade names of Vista and Starane), dicamba, and glyphosate. Fluroxypyr and dicamba are selective herbicides that will control broadleaf weeds and typically not injure grasses.
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Q: Is kochia toxic to cattle?
A: If consumed rapidly and in very high quantities, ingestion can lead to hypocalcemia. A more common problem is the accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys, which causes kidney failure. An unidentified toxin can cause liver failure in cattle, sheep, and horses.
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Q: Is kochia a tumbleweed?
A: Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) and kochia (Kochia scoparia) are common annual broadleaf weeds that become “tumbleweeds” in the fall. These plants can be problematic in many situations where the soil is highly disturbed. These annuals can produce thousands of seeds per plant.
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Q: Why is kochia a problem?
A: Kochia is competitive with crops and problematic in fallow periods between crops. Early-emerging kochia can reduce crop yields by 70 percent or more and can also interfere with harvest. Kochia has an alternating arrangement of linear leaves that are covered with dense hairs.
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Q: Is kochia toxic?
A: Kochia has a variety of toxic and potentially toxic compounds present in the plant including nitrates, oxalates, sulfates, saponins, and alkaloids. These alkaloids and saponins in kochia weed have the potential to cause liver disease, and therefore severe economic losses to the livestock industry.
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Q: Can cows eat kochia?
A: Kochia can, however, be harmful or toxic to cattle if it comprises a large portion of the diet. It contains a number of toxic substances including saponins, alkaloids, oxalates and nitrates. Animals that consume large amounts of the weed may exhibit a range of health problems and have lower rates of gain.
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Q: What happens if you touch a tumbleweed?
A: Russian thistle (Salsola kali), the most common plant referred to as “tumbleweed”” in the western United States can cause a dermatitis in persons who come into direct contract with it.
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Q: How tall does kochia grow?
A: Mature plants are highly branching, 1-6.5 feet tall, pyramidal to round, and bushy, with a soft, airy texture. Plants look blue to gray-green during the growing season, turning red-green or red-purple in the fall. Stems are red tinged and more or less hairy.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.