| Researcher(s) |
Amanda Cook Gurjeet Gill Jake Hull John Kelsh Neil king Ian Richter Wade Shepperd |
|---|---|
| Contact email | amanda.cook@sa.gov.au |
| Year(s) | 2019 - 2021 |
| Contributor | Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula |
| Trial location(s) |
Minnipa, SA
|
Why do the trial?
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 1 O 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. 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.
Three replicated broad acre strips of three seeder widths (27 m wide) were sown in MAC paddock S3
on 17 May. Barley was sown at a seeding rate of 65 kg/ha, with GranulockZ fertiliser at 50 kg/ha,
and 1.2 L/ha glyphosate, 1.5 L/ha trifluralin and 400 g/ha diuron. The 'Higher cost' chemical
strategy hay cut barley was sown at 95 kg/ha, and the 'Cultural control' double seeding rate was
inter row sown with a final seeding rate of 120 kg/ ha and was only sprayed with 1.2 L/ha
glyphosate. The IMI strategy with Scope barley was sprayed on the 16 July with 700 ml/ha lntervix.
| Lead research organisation |
SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation |
Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation |
| Trial funding source | GRDC 9176981 |
| Related program |
Demonstrating and validating the implementation of integrated weed management strategies to control barley grass in the low rainfall zone farming system |
| Acknowledgments |
The research was funded by GRDC 9176981. Thanks you to Katrina Brands and Steve Jeffs or processing samples |
| Other trial partners | The University of Adelaide ; AIR EP |
| Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Barley |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | |
| Trial design |
| Sow rate or Target density | Please see report for treatment details |
|---|---|
| Sow date | 17 May 2019 17 May 2019 |
| Harvest date | 28 October 2019 28 October 2019 |
| Plot size | 27m x 620m |
| Plot replication | 3 |
| Psuedoreplication | Not specified |
| Fertiliser |
50kg/ha GranulockZ |
| Herbicide |
|
| Rainfall avg ann (mm) | 324mm |
|---|---|
| Rainfall avg gsr (mm) | 241mm |
| Rainfall trial total (mm) | 367mm |
| Rainfall trial gsr (mm) | 255mm |
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.
Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR)
Some crop varieties used in research trials may be covered by Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR). Users should confirm PBR status of relevant varieties by searching the IP Australia PBR database, http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/pbr_db/ or Variety Central (http://varietycentral.com.au/) and contacting variety owners for further information if required. Where possible, varieties have been listed according to their registered PBR name, although OFT cannot and does not guarantee that the information is accurate or complete.
Note that PBR cover is administered through the Plant Breeders’ Right Act 1994 (