Broadacre and optical spot spray treatments for control of milk thistle

2025

Research organisations
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Mark Congreve
Contact email mark@icanrural.com.au
Contact phone 0294824930
Year(s) 2025
Contributor ICAN Rural
Trial location(s) Bullarah, NSW
Broadacre and optical spot spray treatments for control of milk thistle locations
Aims

Objectives of the trial

  • Strategies for controlling larger milk thistle?
  • Effect of Delta T on performance of glyphosate and glufosinate for control of milk thistle?
  • Does Group 14 + oil antagonise or help glyphosate?
  • Does Group 14 + oil antagonise or help glufosinate?
  • Comparison of different Group 4 herbicides via broadacre or optical spot sprayer rates (where possible applied at equivalent application rates)
  • Comparison of different paraquat options applied at optical spot sprayer rates 
Key messages

Please refer to pdf trial summary

Bullarah NSW 2025

Two trials were conducted adjacent to each other on a population of elongating milk thistle. The first trial was a comparison of a range of post-emergent fallow options applied at ‘broadacre’ rates. The second trial applied herbicides at application rates equivalent to optical spot spraying rates (note: these treatments were applied with a standard hand boom to simulate OSST rates and are not a true reflection of OSST application equipment).

All treatments had 1% ammonium sulphate added. 

Both trials had a ‘double knock’ application of the 10 L/100L optical sprayer rate of Biffo (glufosinate) applied to the rear 2m of each plot, nine days after the initial treatments. 

For full treatment list please see pdf.

Lead research organisation ICAN Rural
Host research organisation AMPS Agribusiness
Trial funding source GRDC ICN2404-002RTX;ICN2403-002RTX
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Trial co-operator Bolland family


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Weed: Other broadleaf
Treatment type(s)
  • Herbicide : Form
  • Herbicide : Rate
  • Herbicide : Timing
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Blocked

Bullarah 2025

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Herbicide

Please refer to pdf summary for treatment details

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
Bullarah, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Bullarah, NSW Vertosol

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.

Bullarah NSW

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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

Broadacre and optical spot spray treatments for control of milk thistle



Trial last modified: 18-05-2026 14:09pm AEST