Integrated Weed Management maintains low weed levels for more than a decade, Geraldton port zone

2020

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) N/A
Year(s) 2020
Contributor Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA
Trial location(s) Geraldton, WA
Integrated Weed Management maintains low weed levels for more than a decade, Geraldton port zone locations
Aims

To annually monitor long-term focus paddocks in the Geraldton port zone for effectiveness of integrated weed management strategies in controlling herbicde resistant weeds

Key messages
  • In 2000, growers in the northern wheatbelt were concerned about resistant weeds and began to manage them through a range of innovative approaches other than herbicides alone.
  • With GRDC and DPIRD support weeds researcher Peter Newman worked with growers and annually monitored 27 focus paddocks for the surviving ryegrass populations in Spring. Monitoring from 2017 was continued by the Regional Research Agronomy project
  •  In 2001, the average ryegrass count across the paddocks was 183 plants/m2 but growers reduced these numbers by an average of 98% over the first nine seasons.
  • Once ryegrass numbers were reduced to low levels, growers using harvest weed seed control (HWSC) have consistently kept weed numbers close to zero, while those without HWSC have experienced some volatility in numbers annually.
  • In 2020 IWM strategies have continued to maintain low ryegrass numbers and manage herbicide resistance; average ryegrass numbers have reduced by over 99% since 2001
Lead research organisation Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00256
Trial funding source DPIRD WA FFPJP13
Related program Regional Research Agronomy
Acknowledgments

Thanks to all the growers for their continuing long-term support for this activity, to Peter Newman for the initial work and for assistance assistance in continuing the monitoring, to Bonnie Jupp and Joel Johnstone for conducting the paddock monitoring.

Thanks to GRDC and DPIRD for co-investment in the ‘Building capacity in crop protection and crop production agronomy research and development in Western Australia’ project (DAW00256/DAW1512-001RTX)


Other trial partners Not specified
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Trial report and links

Long term integrated weed management maintains low weed numbers for two decades



Trial last modified: 22-11-2021 15:10pm AEST