Trials shine spotlight on early weed control

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J & B Gray

Pailton Pastures Farm

Pailton , Rugby Warwickshire

CV23 0QN

INDEPENDENT

Located within 3 miles of junctions on the M1, M6, M69 and A14.

Located within 3 miles of junctions on the M1,M6, M69 and A14.

We can offer individual storage. Drying and cleaning facilities. Handling of infested loads as well as rolling cereals and pulses on site.

We can offer individual storage Drying and cleaning facilities. Handling of infested loads as well as rolling cereals and pulses on site.

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Email : store@jbgrayfarming.co.uk

Email : store@jbgrayfarming.co.uk

Tel: 07973 159903

Visit our website at: www.graygrainstorage.co.uk

Tel: 07973 159903

Visit our website at: www.graygrainstorage.co.uk

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• spray application rates

Growers should seek to control grass weeds sooner rather than later this spring – rather than waiting for more to emerge, suggests NIAB research.

Farmers should focus on weeds with potential of a high seed return, not just from a crop competition point of view, says John Cussans, a NIAB specialist in weed biology and crop management.

“The message for early spring is the weeds you see in the crop right now are the ones that you are targeting,” says Mr Cussans.

“The ones that germinate later and are less and less of a threat to the crop, and less and less of a threat in terms of ongoing seed return.”

The trials assessed a range of grass weeds germinating at different times through an autumn-drilled crop. Weeds which emerged two or three months after drilling were four or five times smaller than weeds emerging with the crop.

Less biomass

Compared to blackgrass, Italian ryegrass produced twice as much seed and wild oats had three or four times as much biomass. But weeds emerging in February or March had 10-20 times fewer seed returns – and much less biomass.

“It's a really nice overall picture,” explains Mr Cussans. “The larger the plant, the bigger the plant biomass, the more the crop competition and more seed return. It’s a beautiful linear relationship.”

The reduction in weed size and seed return with later emergence was even more marked than the NIAB team expected, says Mr Cussans. This is another reason for getting on top of weeds sooner rather than later.

“For many growers, there’s naturally a tendency to think 'I’ve got this weed that germinates through the season, I’ll wait until every last individual has emerged to target my application timing.'