Forests are being threatened by kudzu.
Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) is an Asian vine that was introduced to America in 1876, according to the website kudzuworld.com, and was initially used as a shade plant in southeastern states. It was hailed as an ideal crop and at one point was set to replace cotton and was also used to control erosion. Today kudzu is considered a weed in the southern states and is vilified by most people who have to deal with it.
Nearly Impossible to Remove
The roots of the kudzu permeate deep into the ground, which ensures the plant never dies off during a mild southern winter. The actual vines and root system are quite thick, making removal a laborious process with low chances of complete eradication.
Prolific Growth
Kudzu will thrive in many different types of soil. In ideal conditions (such as the warm, sunny south) it can grow 1 foot or more every day. Because of this characteristic, kudzu covers more than 2 million acres of forest in the southern United States. Other native species of plants are often shaded out and cease to exist underneath the canopy of kudzu.
Destructive Force
Kudzu has a tendency to climb trees and electrical poles, adding unneeded weight to them. Occasionally the weight of the heavy vine will be too much for whatever the kudzu is growing on and it will fall. Falling trees are quite dangerous, especially since the affected trees are usually on the edge of a wooded area where the kudzu receives the sunlight it needs to thrive. Fallen power lines are even more dangerous and continue to be potentially fatal until they are properly restored. Power outages in areas of kudzu invasion are common.
Electrical Conduction
When kudzu grows on power lines, it can make them very dangerous.
Even if electrical poles have not fallen due to kudzu, there is still the danger of vines growing into high voltage areas. When this happens the vines can act as conductors whether they are dry or wet, which poses a risk to anyone coming into contact with that vine. The vines also pose risks and greatly complicate the efforts of workers who maintain the power lines.
Bad for the Ozone
The deteriorating ozone layer is a serious environmental issue.
Kudzu is from the legume family, which means that it adds nitrogen to the soil, which can be beneficial in controlled amounts. Yet the creation of nitrogen is multiplied by up to 10 times in kudzu-invaded soil, which is harmful to the ozone layer. Researchers also found that emissions of another harmful compound called nitric oxide doubles in areas with high infestations of kudzu. Both of these observations place kudzu as a potential culprit of ozone pollution.
Tags: power lines, electrical poles, ozone layer, soil which