Demonstrating integrated weed management strategies to control barley grass in low rainfall zone farming systems

2019

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Amanda Cook
Contact email Amanda.cook@sa.gov.au
Contact phone 0427270154
Year(s) 2019
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Demonstrating integrated weed management strategies to control barley grass in low rainfall zone farming systems locations
Aims

Barley grass possesses several biological traits that make it difficult for growers to manage it in the low rainfall zone, so it is not surprising that it is becoming more prevalent in field crops in SA and WA. A survey by Llewellyn et al. (2015) showed that barley grass has now made its way into the top 10 weeds of Australian cropping in terms of area infested, crop yield loss and revenue loss.

The biological traits that make barley grass difficult for growers to manage in low rainfall zones include:

  • early onset of seed production, which reduces effectiveness of crop-topping or spray-topping in pastures,
  • shedding seeds well before crop harvest, reducing harvest weed seed control effectiveness compared to weeds such as ryegrass which has a much higher seed retention,
  • increased seed dormancy, reducing weed control from knockdown herbicides due to delayed emergence, and
  • increasing herbicide resistance, especially to Group A herbicides, used to control grass weeds in pasture phase and legume crops.

 

Barley grass management is likely to be more challenging in the low rainfall zone because the growing seasons tend to be more variable in terms of rainfall, which can affect the performance of the pre-emergence herbicides. Furthermore, many growers in these areas tend to have lower budgets for management tactics, and break crops are generally perceived as more risky than cereals. Therefore, wheat and barley tend to be the dominant crops in the low rainfall zone. This project is undertaking coordinated research with farming systems groups across the Southern and Western cropping regions to demonstrate tactics that can be reliably used to improve the management of barley grass.

Key messages
  • In 2019 the IMI system had the lowest barley grass plant numbers.
  • The Cultural Control strategy did not achieve the desired outcome of having a more even seed spread and increased competition in the inter row for barley grass weed control.
  • The medic pasture produced low dry matter compared to the cereal systems, had the highest barley grass population and the lowest competitive ability with the barley grass.
  • The loss of Group A herbicides to control barley grass within local pasture systems has the potential to change rotations and decrease farm profitability.
Lead research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Host research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial funding source GRDC 9176981
Related program Management of Barley and Barley Cultivars for the Southern Region
Acknowledgments

This research was funded by GRDC 9176981. Thank you to Katrina Brands and Steve Jeffs for processing samples.


Other trial partners University of Adelaide
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Weed: Barley Grass Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Management systems: Integrated weed management
Trial type
Trial design

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019 Barley Grass

Sow rate or Target density Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Plot blocking Not specified
Plot randomisation Not specified
Herbicide Not specified

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2019 Barley

Sow rate or Target density 65kg/ha
Sow date 17 May 2019 17th may 2019
Harvest date 28 October 2019 28th October 2019
Plot size 27m x 620m
Plot replication 3
Plot blocking Random
Plot randomisation Random blocks
Herbicide

propyzamide @ 1 L/ha

Targa Bolt @ 190 ml/ha

Broadstrike @ 25 g/ha

Clethodim @ 250 ml/ha

paraquat @ 1.2 L/ha

1.8 L/ha Weedmaster DST

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Red sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Calcarosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA
2019 325.3mm
2018 358.1mm
2017 376.5mm
2016 352.2mm
2015 325.1mm
2014 380.2mm
2013 318.6mm
2012 337.2mm
2011 388.8mm
2010 396.3mm
2009 412.6mm
2008 331.8mm
2007 318.9mm
2006 336.6mm
2005 302.5mm
2004 301.7mm
2003 306.6mm
2002 294.7mm
2001 356.7mm
2000 384.8mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2019 trial report



Trial last modified: 19-05-2023 14:27pm AEST