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Pigweed

Portulaca oleracea
Also known as black pigweed, purslane or wild portulaca, pigweed is an annual, succulent herb that is a well-known weed in many vegetable crops in temperate and sub-tropical areas. The stems of pigweed are often reddish in colour and commonly forms a dense mat up to 60 cm in diameter. Pigweed can cause yield reductions of between 20 to 40 per cent in horticultural crops and can host other pests and diseases such as the sugar beet nematode and tobacco mosaic virus.
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Description

The leaves of pigweed are smooth, succulent, thick and shiny and are narrow at the base of the stem, with rounded ends. They can range from 2 to 13 mm in width and 4 to 28 mm in length. Pigweed has small (four millimetre long) pale yellow flowers in summer and is a prolific seeder, producing seeds that can be viable, depending on conditions, for up to 40 years. 

As seedlings, pigweed can sometimes be confused with giant pigweed (Trianthema portulacastrum) which is more commonly found in tropical areas. As an adult plant, the leaves of giant pigweed are more rounded and crinkled and it has pink flowers.

Pigweed germinates in late spring to early summer in a range of soil types but it prefers high fertility soils with moderate moisture. Seedlings emerge following rainfall and after temperatures reach 24°C before flowering 4 to 6 weeks later.

Control

Pigweed seeds are easily spread through cultivation and on agricultural implements as well as via animals, where they are still viable after being digested. In addition to being spread by seed, broken stem fragments can re-establish, forming new plants and aiding its spread. 

There are a range of techniques that can be used as part of an integrated weed management plan to manage pigweed including; tillage of seedlings following irrigation, planting cover crops, using mulch and crop residues to block light to restrict germination and the use of pre-emergent or early post-emergent chemicals. 

Betanal® Flow is registered for the control of two-leaf pigweed in beet crops. Sencor® is registered for the control of pigweed in tomatoes. 

Roundup Ultra® MAX, Roundup Ready® with Plantshield® and Roundup Ready PL are registered for the control of pigweed in a range of situations. 

Related Products

Betanal Flow
Roundup UltraMAX
Roundup Ready with plantshield
Roundup Ready PL Herbicide with Plantshield technology
Sencor® 480 SC Selective Herbicide product by Bayer
Roundup Biactive GL

References

Coleman, M, Kristiansen, P, Sindel, B, Fyfe, C (2018), ‘Pigweed (Portulaca oleracea): Weed management guide for Australian vegetable production’, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/255100/une-weeds-pigweed.pdf

Herbiguide (2014), ‘Pigweed’, Herbiguide, http://www.herbiguide.com.au/Descriptions/hg_Dead_Nettle.htm