Richard Smith is the University of California Cooperative Extension Monterey County Vegetable Crop Production and Weed Science Farm Advisor. He also covers Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.

 

Oakleaf goosefoot (Chenopodium glaucum) is a new weed to the Salinas Valley that has become more prevalent. Its population has been on the rise for several years and it has become a significant weed in some parts of the valley. It ranges in vegetable production fields from Castroville to King City. High populations are still spotty in the valley, but in some fields it is one of the principal weeds.  

Oakleaf goosefoot is closely related to lambsquarters (C. album) and nettleleaf goosefoot (C. murale). A variety of oakleaf goosefoot is native to eastern California (C. glaucum var. salina). The variety that we have here in the Salinas Valley is not the native, but rather the non-native variety C. glaucum var. glauca which is widely reported as a weed in many parts of the United States.

Oakleaf goosefoot can be distinguished from the other Chenopodium species by the shape and texture of the leaves. The undersides of the  leaves are white-mealy (Photo 1), while the rest of the plant is glabrous or nearly so (Photo 2). The leaves tend to be thickened and the margins of the leaves can be coarsely serrated. The plant is more prostrate than lambsquarters or nettleleaf goosefoot and that is a good way to distinguish it in the field (Photos 3-5). The stems of oakleaf goosefoot tend to be reddish.

Oakleaf goosefoot can inhabit vegetable production fields as well as the margins of fields and ditches (Photos 6-7). At this point, it appears to be susceptible to the same herbicides as the other Chenopodium species. In one trial, it was shown to be highly susceptible to the combination of Kerb and Prefar. That is the good news. The bad news is that it is spreading and is taking full advantage of opportunities along field edges to set great quantities of seed. At this point, the populations of this weed have increased to the point that several growers and PCA's have commented about it and have expressed concern for its growing populations. It is good to recognize this weed and address it as you would the other Chenopodium species.