South Georgia Student Develops Method To Control Kudzu 

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!

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

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!

What a motivated, intelligent young man. Very impressive

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

Ingenious! Great job, Jacob!

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

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

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

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...

Helium is rare, and stocks are diminishing.

Give this kid a full scholarship.

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

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?

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.

this kid cracked the code why isn’t this implemented ?!?!

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

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

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!

where is he now???? 2019??

Helium is becoming extinct...

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.

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.

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

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

I smell a Nobel Prize.

Aren't we running out of helium?

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.

Nice work mate 10/10

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Go Jacob!!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Very impressive!

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

Wow what a great kid/young man.

How much money do you need to make your KUDZU BLASTER and get a patent to protect your rights on your invention? MAKE and sell your invention and let landowners do the work.

I wish I could hire this guy

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

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

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

The cities should be hiring him..

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

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

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

Make a vid of you doing the whole process please

You're hired! Name your price!

How can I make contact with this guy???

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!!

Kudzu is edible and safe to eat. It’s considered a staple vegetable in Japan. Make sure the plant you’re harvesting is safe to eat. Most kudzu vines in the wild have been sprayed with herbicides. Don’t eat them if you’re unsure whether they’ve been sprayed with chemicals or not. Kudzu leaves and young shoots can be served raw or cooked, tossed on a salad, added into soups, deep-fried or stir-fried. Much like the common arrowroot, kudzu roots are also full of edible starch. This starch is a powerful thickening agent used in soups, stews, and sauces. It is also gluten-free, making it a great wheat flour substitute for those with a gluten allergy or intolerance. The fragrant blossoms can be served raw, cooked, or pickled. Flowers can be used as an edible garnish on salads and desserts and you can make them into jelly, syrup and candy. Kudzu has so many health benefits to offer: rich in dietary fibers, making it a good and filling energy source. It’s also a great source of minerals, such as iron, sodium, calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, and manganese. It does contains isoflavones which act like estrogen in the body, often used to treat menopause symptoms. Studies also suggest that kudzu’s isoflavones may be able to prevent and help treat breast cancer and uterine cancer. Kudzu is also a popular herb among those with drinking problems. This herb can treat alcoholism and relieve hangover symptoms, such as headaches, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. It’s believed that kudzu can combat drinking addictions by increasing blood flow and making drinkers feel the alcohol effects sooner. This way, drinkers are more likely to drink less and stop drinking earlier. Kudzu is also used to treat other ailments, such as cold, fever, flu, hay fever, sinus infection, migraine, upset stomach, diarrhea, dysentery, muscle pain, and neck stiffness. It can also treat skin problems, such as itchiness, rash and psoriasis. Kudzu can help control blood sugar levels in diabetic patients as well. Lastly, it’s also great for treating cardiovascular diseases. The flavonoid-like compound in it increases blood circulation and flow. For this reason, kudzu works great to treat high blood pressure, stroke, cholesterol, angina, and even heart attacks. Plants only grows because the Nature Goddess knows the locals/ people needs it.. it is their loss to eat junk foods and ineffective expensive meds instead of free medicine here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Will this work on peppervine as well?

what button ?

That kid is so lovable

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

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.

And now the "Government" will raise the price of Helium for NO REASON. But I may have missed it. but how much he 'inject' into one plant bulb?

goat loves kudzu

This is awesome. Unfortunately, helium is a natural gas found in pockets in the earth. So it requires drilling and environmental disruption to obtain. It's also nonrenewable and takes a loooong time to form. It's lighter than air so what's not handled correctly simply floats up and into the atmosphere. While it's not running out yet, we keep coming up with innovations that require it. It, like fossil fuels, has a time stamp. All of that needs to be factored in.

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

Come to Kentucky and fix our hills

Why are they not doing this in my town?

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

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

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

Good for you son ,old jimmy Australia

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

Helium? No ... No... to rare expensive. Un renew avail.... neon?

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

kid could patent it

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

I hope he has a patent!

Why don't they cultivate it and make it into starch, powder, or even dried kudzu leaves? They are great alternatives to other starches and way healthier!

" oh my god ! "

What else will it kill too though

Cool! Now go make your millions! Great job!

I hope he got the patent !!!