Nightshade is a tought critter. It's difficult to erradicate with strong chemistry, and certianly by organic means. There are herbicides that effectively and permanently kill nightshade, but I won't go into that, since we are talking organics here.
The root system is very tough and resilient, ask any farmer, and they'll be happy to tell you that you can't "plow" it out.
There are the two most common types here in Texas, either actual silverleaf nightshade, or the one as previously mentioned, carolina horsenettle.
To date, the best observed non-chemical methods for removal of most perennial noxious weeds/brush, is constant disturbance of its photosynthetic process.
Methods include: Mechanical (gubbbing/hand pulling), burning (flame), mowing/shredding, or treatment with some form of liquid spray. Mowing is a practical application in a lawn, but not so much in a pasture setting. Luckily, if raising hay, your hay cutting opertation actually does some of this work (i.e. severing the stem ) and removal of leaves. Unfortunately you're still not likely to kill the plant, just control it.
To me torching, or liquid applications are probably the best methods. I have successfully grubbed some using a tool for brush removal, but complete removal is still not a reasonable option. This grubbing method is very disruptive to the soil, and really only suitable in areas that are to be maintained by tillage, anyways.
You can use a shovel/hoe for top-removal and that will set the plant back more than simply mowing/shredding. But still, don't expect actual root-kill. At least not for yrs, and only with constant maintenance.
Personally, I would utilize diesel as a spray... and keep repeat treatment on plants. Diesel will harm any adjacent forage as well, so be prepared. Some may not approve, but I have heard several Organic Professionals mention that it was an acceptable method for control of re-sprouting brush species.
As for getting rid of weeds by improving soil health, Good Luck guys and gals... these statements aren't with merit. Weeds don't just thrive on poor soils, they thrive on healthy soils as well. It's all about the mgmt of the base vegetation/forage. Ground that has good grass cover, will have less weeds, and vice a versa. Soil disturbance, and inadequate grass/ground cover, are your reasons for existence of weeds.
Healthy Soil = Healthy Weeds, unless you simultaneouly improve your mgmt of your base vegetation. In this case, the pasture grass.
And incidentally, you can't have healthy soil, without the existence of a good stand of desirable vegetation.
Well composted/organic soils, make pulling weeds easier, but strongly perennial broadleaves, such as nightshade, are too deeply rooted to realize such a benefit.
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