South Georgia Student Develops Method To Control Kudzu

It has been called the "foot a night vine", the "mile a minute vine" and in some cases the "vine that ate the South." But Ryan Naquin reports there is new hope when it comes to fighting kudzu, and it all started with an idea that was, well, out of this world.
See a follow-up story with Jacob from 2016:
• UGA Student Seeks To T...

[@josebenitez3732]

The reason why this kid is not getting more traction is because agribusinessas can't patent anything that is so simple and available. Great Kid! Bravo & Kudos!

[@linzierogers7479]

It will find a way to scale it up and take it away from him.

[@ihendu100]

*¯\_(ツ)_/¯*

[@berkeleygang1834]

It's patented! US Patent US8904703B2

[@gogogardener]

I hope this kid gets a good scholarship when he's ready for college.

[@kristengibson277]

What a motivated, intelligent young man. Very impressive

[@rjon5624]

Never knew about your discovery until now. Kudzu has been a menace along highways and fields in the south. Counties and states have spent fortunes trying to control this very invasive plant. Great job Jacob! Hope you did start your own business or go to college. Wishing you much success!

[@ceedaddy]

Great Job to that young man... he def has a promising future in the science community...

[@jameseddy6835]

Proud of you young man. Keep up the good work. Jim

[@cloudstrifeification]

A good echo friendly way of dealing with kudzu! Hats off to this kid.

[@bourbonslayer7303]

Awesome research young man. We are all cheering and are grateful and proud of you.

[@paulc7590]

Good job, Jacob. Since this video was from 9 years ago, I hope you had the opportunity to go to college.

[@rosiegold8562]

Ingenious! Great job, Jacob!

[@relic1398]

smart kid, I'll be fighting kudzu this winter, I guess i'll dig out the roots.

[@onceANexile]

Give this kid a full scholarship.

[@seriouslyreally5413]

Helium must interfere with the nitrogen fixating capability of the legume's roots that spares the regular plants around it and only affects the kudzu...

[@scottmantooth8785]

that would be my guess

[@nickguthrie9309]

I await a repeat of the treatment by a third party with no dog in the race. Helium is an inert gas so doesn't act chemically. Amirite?

[@lwmaynard5180]

What other weeds would it work on effectively. .

[@CharlotteFairchild]

What other plant creates ozone? What other plant has 60 medicinal uses?

[@AngelaGonzalez-bf5xs]

Would love to be a testing site for you! Outstanding work. You are a very intelligent, creative and driven young man!! Kudos to you!!

[@robinangel8495]

I would love to be a testing site as well in SC.

[@susied6383]

Test at my place. I’ll pay!! Alabama

[@mattyt7528]

Nice work mate 10/10

[@davidlafleur4450]

Where can I by a big propane tank of it Jacob and how far to drill the holes

[@sherilynalexnder897]

That is amazing! I have kudzu taking over my back yard here in south FL right this minute. The only drawback to this method is that helium tanks are hard to come by, especially in the present times. But I'm now considering buying ten bday ballons at Dollar Tree and figuring out how to release the helium into the ground!

[@threeriversforge1997]

Drilling a hole in the ground is very easy. Then all you have to do is insert a pipe that has the gas fitting on the end so you can attach a helium bottle. Or, rent some goats so they can eat it back to nothing, giving you room to get in there where the mother root is.

[@beckybrown6880]

This is amazing. This should take the place of round up. You are very intelligent. Wished you were close to me. I have so much , it's trying to take over everything.

[@kateli1880]

Becky Brown eat it.. it’s has many benefits.

[@simpleman283]

@@kateli1880 If it was around me I would be eating it all the time. Free food.

[@DolittleMccoy]

So do you just put the helium in the ground where the plant is located. Or do you have to locate the main root and then use the helium?

[@georgedrenes8143]

Greetings Jacob. I'm interesting in clearing some of my 23 acres of kudzu. Can you tell me the dosage I should use?

[@Josephsvideoalbum]

Aren't we running out of helium?

[@TheGuruStud]

Yep. The deniers will tell you there's tons of it. More than ever found before....except it hasn't been found. It's only theorized to exist...many MILES below the surface.

[@kateli1880]

Adams Family when humans become so evil beyond redemption .. it will spew up and destroy Earthlings as it did to Martians 👽

[@MahatmaMichael]

Brilliant! This young man - inventor - visionary should be awarded with huge money from government funds

[@marymesser4921]

A Nobel prize

[@pamgriffin8143]

Very impressive!

[@jessiesmith5256]

There are several Kudzu informational books and cookbooks out there! Gonna try them.

[@dtbone6]

where is he now???? 2019??

[@georgedodd3970]

Would Argon gas work instead of Helium ?? Does anybody have an opinion on this ?

[@onebigkahuna69]

Helium is becoming extinct...

[@MartynCole]

What's wrong with using goats like everyone else rather than using a finite vital resource we need for medical and scientific uses.

[@cantdrivefiftyfive]

Helium is not scarce nor finite. If it was, floaty balloons would be mega expensive.

[@altond511]

@benjovi55 Huh?

[@altond511]

@@cantdrivefiftyfive Do you want to wait until it becomes mega expensive before we conserve it?

[@altond511]

@Charm Me Tonight How the hell do you know?

[@jockellis]

I smell a Nobel Prize.

[@allnaturalhomesteaders]

I have a 1/4 Acer of kudzu that I can't remove, I'd be willing to pay this young man to come and remove our problem! It's destroying our trees! We're in Virginia. And could really use the help.

[@RealityStar9]

Wow what a great kid/young man.

[@6155ish]

How can you be contacted? Have you manufactured your device yet, if so where can it be purchased?

[@GettingtheTruthOut]

Garlon IV controls and kills Kudzu just fine. Pretty cool that he came up with this method, but unfortunate it requires a depleted resource.

[@dakotaclement7751]

Garlon is outrageously expensive and doesn't kill the crown. Helium does and you can buy it for roughly 7 dollars a gallon

[@hardheadjarhead]

Helium is rare, and stocks are diminishing.

[@terrybyrd5105]

Good job! Next project - annihilate Cogon (Imperata Cylindrica) without herbicides.

[@afrobluatlanta2380]

Go Jacob!!

[@andywilbourn8761]

I would buy such a device to control the annoying Kudzu. Any info on it being available of a product for sale?

[@jesse4530]

Make a vid of you doing the whole process please

[@timadams9629]

I wish I could hire this guy

[@pamwilfong4365]

Jacob, please come to Sumter SC -- to my house!! This Kudzu is taking over!

[@davidgray8191]

This Kid deserves to make MONEY. Cause ain't that America!

[@donnaperkins7176]

where is this young man now? I would LOVE to sponsor him and his discovery here in North Alabama!! I am retired Horticulturist and never heard of this

[@threeriversforge1997]

Never heard about this, and with millions of acres not only destroyed, but neighboring acreage horribly devalued, this could be a real money-maker. He needs to get in touch with the land developers and state agencies to see how this could be scaled up.

[@blessedwith3kids]

You're hired! Name your price!

[@MsTigerseye77]

Brilliant kid! His mom must be so proud. I guess we can eradicate the contaminated (pesticide fed) kudzu and eat the clean kudzu. Win win?

[@jawbaw6471]

Why are they not doing this in my town?

[@M.T.S.1981]

Ok i need him right about now. Is your business up and running? How much do you charged and do you travel?

[@scottodonahoe9505]

And who says American innovation is dead . You know who !

[@scottmantooth8785]

composted kudzu was one of the main factors in one individuals ability to grow massive towers of tomato's...the use of helium is actually quite brilliant... there are however uses for kudzu so it is only considered a nuisance or invasive plant by those who do not know what to do with it...does this technique also work on poison ivy? i'd be all for that one

[@butchgreene]

It's an invasive plant because it has engulfed more square mileage in the US than the footprint of all of New York City. It has NO predators, no species in the US can outcompete it & in it's native country it doesn't even grow enough to be considered worse than a simple muscadine vine. In the southeast, it has engulfed every beautiful watershed and river/stream as the waters spread it downstream. Literally miles and miles of it on all the steepest, most rugged terrain we have. You sound so stupid...3 years ago.

[@threeriversforge1997]

No, it's considered an invasive because it's invasive and horribly destructive to the local ecosystem. That you can make something from it is wholly irrelevant.

[@moxietovani7108]

I wanted to get rid of wisteria wanted by former owner. Solutions?

[@ryanwalsh5019]

That kid is so lovable

[@lillsportyshorty7165]

The cities should be hiring him..

[@roderickjohnson5585]

How can I make contact with this guy???

[@tinacapoccia7173]

How do I contact this kid?? I have a VERY VERY BIG problem with this kudzu IN A VERY BIG YARD. He is more than welcome to test away here.

[@kevinpilkington6527]

I'm with ya on that.....3 acres of that mess here....I'd pay him to test...lol

[@B.Nutter91]

What’s his contact info I have this problem in my backyard

[@billhawkins8851]

what button ?

[@karendevore8629]

I would hire this young man in a minute. How do I get in contact with him?

[@carlybearden9231]

Will this work on peppervine as well?

[@balznack]

Peperoni

[@dlwatib]

Goats love to eat the stuff. If you have (or rent) goats, kudzu isn't a problem.

[@smannee]

It will probably be impossible to get rid of it on mars too

[@idontcare1481]

I’ve got this crap in my backyard and it has taken it over! I’m in Maryland and it’s everywhere in this part of Maryland. My person who cuts my grass won’t mow it, I need help!!

[@scottymac62]

Cool! Now go make your millions! Great job!

[@UrJunkRemoval]

goat loves kudzu

[@benholst5650]

Nice job Jacob. Try goats. It’s free food. They fix the problem and fertilize the ground and rebuild the soil. And they’re lovable.

[@kellyyork3898]

I'm rooting for you. Hope to totally eradicate this plant.

[@camdenfitzgerald2557]

This is great, except there is the problem of helium being in shortage.

[@poilochien]

" oh my god ! "

[@ivanivonovich9863]

Helium is not a plentiful "rare earth gas". You could also use chlorine gas to kill the weeds.

[@TdotRob]

I'm guessing @Lulubelle and @ShazamVanBane are either a) not familiar with the way Kudzu grows in the South; b) not familiar in general with the phenomenon of invasive species; or c) both. It matters not whether it is edible or otherwise useful if it grows so fast and spreads so readily that it devours entire ecosystems. In climates such as its native Japan, it dies off in the winter and has a short growing season. But in the Southern USA where the growing season is nearly continuous, it devours entire forests, is even capable of bringing down barns and houses. Whether or not you can eat it is irrelevant if it cannot be controlled. Calling the kid a stupid bozo reveals more about you than about him.

[@CharlotteFairchild]

T.Rob Wyatt Do you know about the Great Leap Forward in China? The USA has more kudzu than China, and it grew at first in China. Japan is not Siberia. It is a mild enough place. There are many people who use kudzu.

[@chadwaldron6329]

Saw a vid where goats cleaned out acres of Kud. Grow more goats. Meat is good, they don't fart as much and their doodoo is great fertilizer.

[@aclemons6674]

@@chadwaldron6329 buy me a goat and take all the complaints from my neighbors for the smell. Prepare its poop and all

[@marymesser4921]

How MANY goats would you need to eradicate 20 acres of engulfed land destroyed by kudzu? Goats eat daily, kudzu grows longer than a goat daily. What about kudzu in tree tops? Should someone get giraffes for that? What is your ordinance does don't allow farm animals? Of wild animals? What's sad, is trying to remove this from land. And also that it had a purpose once, it is edible, medicinal, can be used in textiles, but NO ONE BUYS KUDZU, NO ONE EATS IT , AND NO ONE EVER TOLD PEOPLE WHAT TO DO WITH IT. So we are overtaken but it. I Never thought my biggest fight in life would be with a kudzu. You can't be a farmer and grow anything because kudzu will kill it. And if you give up fighting, it will overtake you inside your house. No one should feel sorry for kudzu. The boy is a genius.

[@johnoneill6161]

Where is the Helium going to come from? Maybe goats are a better option?

[@rainafortini5797]

Fantastic however scientists say helium supplies virtually used up on the planet....I hate those stupid balloons what a dumb industry...It amazes me that few poeple care about this problem so thank god for Jacob :) Armies of men would be needed to make a dent in kudzu (allover the northeast too btw) But what a great way to create jobs....I would love to work outside especially knowing I was saving the planet's lungs and oxygen supply! Instead of "jobs" picking up dogsht and selling stupid birthday balloons this should be turned into a new growth industry.....there must be some equivalent of helium that would work....let us know when you find it Jacob Kudzu Master.

[@CharlotteFairchild]

Raina Fortini County governments spend millions to manage kduzu with poisons (and we are breathing the poisons) by the side of the roads. Maybe hydrogen (highly famable though).

[@ryanjones7681]

False. We will never run out of helium. Look up how it's made.

[@AlisonCasilli]

To you folks not from the south...come on down and buy a piece of property with kudzu on it. Watch it eat your house, your vegetable garde, even your car if you don't move it for a few days. There is no way that anyone can eat the amount of kudzu that grows overnight on my acre property alone, let alone the adjoining block of city property that it takes over in a week without some form of control. Until you do that, hush. Your opinion from your distant armchair is in no way worth me losing property that has been in my family for a generation.

[@mondaysgood7613]

ummm, you do know that it is edible don't you?.....if it's eating your house......eat it back. process it and package it and sell as food.....making money and controlling growth.....what a concept.

[@CharlotteFairchild]

Mondays Good You know about Chattahoochee snuff? I talked to some farmers who sell kudzu to people who want to use snuff. They farm kudzu.

[@CharlotteFairchild]

Mondays Good You know about Chattahoochee snuff? I talked to some farmers who sell kudzu to people who want to use snuff. They farm kudzu.

[@mkpratt58]

Goats destroy it.....do some research dopey

[@kevinpilkington6527]

@@mkpratt58 lol...I've had goats on these cables of crap for 40 yrs, sold goats out and that mess has taken over 1 1/2 acres and the goats aint been gone 6 months...get some sense dopey

[@drphil4ril161]

I would like to see someone isolate me he gene in cudzu and apply in to vegetables plants

[@joeywilburn8672]

Unfortunately we're running out of helium and it will only be available for commercial or government used before long.

[@cjacob9875]

Smart kid, better get a trade mark, llc and patient on the drill, type of gas used and amount.

[@spacecadet4128]

You patent the method, not the tools.

[@Worldtraceur]

@LAWAGO pesticides are for pests. Herbicides are what you mean. And most herbicides have no effect. Some even help the kudzu.

[@lisawallace3124]

I hope he has a patent!

[@fireaxxe]

Unfortunately, Helium is a poor choice as there is a finite supply of the gas. While abundant in space, it is only produced on earth by the radioactive decay of Thorium and Uranium. It is often found in natural gas but diminished drilling has decreased the supply.

[@brandistevens8273]

So what happened since then?? It’s now 2024 ! Did he develop a product?

[@sonpacho]

Damn, doomed from the start! The planet is running out of helium and goats can get rid of it just as well...

[@talno3287]

They owe him some BIG money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jimmydickson8854]

Good for you son ,old jimmy Australia

[@stolenspoon8]

cool

[@andresgrayston4374]

What else will it kill too though

[@kevinpilkington6527]

trash in a weld

[@francodimitsy989]

Goats.

[@andresgrayston4374]

@@kevinpilkington6527 air in a weld

[@do0zer1976]

Dang this is 13 years old and went no where lol…

[@debbiehall6616]

Come to Kentucky and fix our hills

[@FORTMOUD]

Nobody explain why will not be accepted ..the invention....because helium is in the stage of disappearances being a byproduct

[@CharlotteFairchild]

Search on KZbin for "Charlotte Kudzu" for 2 songs about kudzu, or follow me. I wrote 2 songs about the science of kudzu. My favorite it "kudzilla!"

[@aenorist2431]

Nice except helium is a limited ressource. Use a dozen goats. Low effort and you even get some goat out of it.

[@RichardRecupero]

10 years later all I see is this shit

[@diogenes848]

Helium isn't plentiful enough to use that way. Its only cheap in the US because we effectively subsidize it. the federal government sells it cheap. But its stocks are going down. I'd prefer some other compound that is more sustainably procured.

[@spacecadet4128]

It's not really cheap if you need a lot. I was going to build a large radio control dirigible until I priced the helium.

[@ryanjones7681]

Helium wont run low or out. Ever. Its is produced from the deterioration of uranium atoms inside the earth (the same process that keeps the earth warm) we will never run out of helium, not until the earth dies.

[@edwinfedick9822]

But ,,,,,,,But ,,,, running out of helium

[@jessiesmith5256]

You're lucky the EPA didn't come down on you! Bless you son!

[@TheGuruStud]

For what? Wasting Helium?

[@sislertx]

Now we know why there is a helium shortage....lol.

[@dave-in-nj9393]

I hope he got the patent !!!

[@TheGuruStud]

needs an ass beating

[@kevinpilkington6527]

@@TheGuruStud you must have some kudzu buddies...lol

[@JamieDPS]

pesticides??

[@AlisonCasilli]

Edible..sure. so is the grass in my yard but i am not going to eat that either. If you knew anyrhing about it beyond the hype you would know it tastes like crap. Btw, if its eating my house, it is growing too fast to "eat it back"... common sense, what a concept.

[@d.e303-anewlowcosthomebuil7]

kid could patent it

[@weeverob]

problem is we're running out of helium

[@kevinpilkington6527]

I use 40 to 50 lbs a day and my suppliers haven't told me of a shortage......I'm gonna put a few pounds under some kudzu and see if it helps, it sure works great for heliarc

[@fuosdi64]

This video is nearly a decade old.

[@weeverob]

@@fuosdi64 and…?

[@CharlotteFairchild]

The best way to manage kudzu is use the leaves and roots. I am growing the root in hydroponics and juicing the greens.

[@lidieyay7324]

Have you had any significant changes in your body?

[@lidieyay7324]

@Successful Trucking Ohh!! That's not nice 🤐

[@kevinpilkington6527]

why grow it Charlotte, I got three acres of that crap I'll give you and all I ask is you take the roots and greens all with you as you leave....lol...seriously

[@CharlotteFairchild]

@@lidieyay7324 With kudzu yes. Without it I have problems with allergies.

[@aggabus]

Helium maybe the cold