Barley Grass
Demonstrating and validating the implementation of integrated weed management strategies to control barley grass in the low rainfall zone farming systems
Project Funders: Grains Research & Development Cooperation (GRDC), University of Adelaide
Project Lead Organisation/Researcher: University of Adelaide, Dr. Gurjeet Gill
Project Duration: 2019-2022
Project Locations: North Condobolin
Aim
The project aims to develop an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) strategy in response to the increased infestation of barley grass due to autumn seed dormancy, early sowing and increased herbicide resistance in low rainfall zones.
Description and background
Over the last few years there have been increases in barley grass infestations in cereal crops in southern Australia. It has been getting hard to pin-point the reasons, but there are several possibilities. They could be linked to the practice of early sowing and improved seed dormancy.
Also, barley grass possesses several biological traits that make it difficult for growers to manage in the low rainfall zone. Barley grass management may also be a little 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 a lower threshold for expenditure on management tactics.
This project will present demonstration research to identify tactics for barley grass management in the low rainfall southern and western region.
The focus will be on achieving practice change among local growers by working closely with 9 farming systems groups in low rainfall areas of southern and western regions. The project will select 4 management strategies for investigation in large scale replicated demonstration trials to be undertaken by participating farming systems groups.
Reports & Media Releases
Partnership
This project is a partnership between GRDC, The University of Adelaide and Central West Farming Systems (CWFS).
GRDC Barley Grass Project
Demonstrating and validating the implementation of integrated weed management strategies to control barley grass in the low rainfall zone farming systems
Project Funders:
GRDC, University of Adelaide
Project Duration:
2019-2022
Background:
CWFS is a part of a 3-year project to undertake demonstration research to identify tactics for barley grass management in the low rainfall northern, southern and western regions. The project will select 4 management strategies for investigation in large scale replicated demonstration trials. A steering committee will be established and a workshop is to be held in April 2019 to identify management tactics and rotations to be investigated over the 3 years of study. The baseline strategy will be a current management practice widely used by the growers in each FSG for the management of barley grass. Other management strategies will be identified by discussion at the inception meetings and will include improved practices used by the leading growers and agronomists as well as strategies identified in research trials. These demonstration sites will be used to collect data on crop performance (density and yield) and barley grass plant density and panicle density as well as seed production each year. These sites will also be used for spring field walks to highlight the impact of different management practices on barley grass. At the end of the 3rd year of demonstration, data from each study site will be used to develop management case studies that will be hosted on FSG websites as well as on WeedSmart.
Due to drought conditions in 2019, activities for this project were not comprehensively carried out and data from the trial could not be collected. Fortunately, 2020 has seen dry conditions ease and the Central West has received excellent rainfall. Sowing was undertaken on the 27th of April.
