KUDZU ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO AIR POLLUTION
An ominously green creeping example of man's improvement to the planet going awry, the kudzu (Pueraria montana) invasion of the Southeastern U.S. is not easily forgotten once observed. Without dwelling on the pros and cons of having the South (especially South Carolina) devoured by Kudzu, consider only the alarming progression of this green flora dragon. Although concentrated in the Southeast, kudzu is on the march to the north and has been discovered in New Jersey, Chicago and southern Ontario. With estimates of up to seven million acres smothered in green, kudzu infestation is very much on the upsurge and may become an important component of the End Times as things get rolling. Current estimates are that kudzu is adding about two hundred square miles a year to the land it claims, and that its habitat area is moving north as the climate warms.*
This vine from Hades continues to spread and out-compete native species and alter ecosystems, growing over almost anything in its proximity including trees, other vegetation, power poles and buildings. Kudzu vines can grow by as much as 60 feet in a season at a rate of up to a foot a day. The rate of spread of kudzu is not a simple doubling, but rather exponential when left to grow unchecked. Its stems grow to 95 feet and its roots down to 9 feet.
Were you worried that man would not be able to control nature. Don't. As long as we have companies like Dupont, we can kill anything. In this case, we are talking about DuPont™ Escort® XP herbicide, sort of an Agent Orange treatment for kudzu. And this is ironically befitting for a plant that came from China, since China was really behind the Vietnam war (whence most of the U.S. troubles began) and we used Agent Orange in the jungles. Best of all, Escort XP is not a restricted use herbicide, so you can use it pretty much anywhere.
AIR POLLUTION
Sometimes, the playful CatMap Editorial Board writes up a parody for the blog just to keep things light for the End Times. The recurring problem with this practice is that reality is almost always either more frightening or more stupid. That's why we were not surprised to discover that scientists are now indicating that kudzu has now been found to be a contributing factor in air pollution.
Previously, people concerned about the kudzu invasion focused on its effect on negative effect on biodiversity, this effect due in large part to its propensity to engulf all living and non-living things in its proximity. Researchers now believe kudzu is releasing ground-level ozone, contributing to smog, breathing difficulties and global climate change. has the potential to raise ozone levels by increasing nitric oxide emissions from soils by as much as 100%. Since Nitrous Oxide is a potent greenhouse gas, the spread of this little crop of horrors could be a contributing factor to climate change.
HISTORY
Originally native to China, this leguminous vine was first introduced in the U.S. about 1920 for erosion control and livestock forage. Over 2 million acres were planted to kudzu up until 1950, when someone noticed that it kudzu was taking over. Oops. Can we assume the erosion is now in check?
"Stand there much longer and the kudzu will cover you." - pithy Southern colloquialism
