Australia
June 24, 2014

Understanding a weed seed’s potential for persistence – the timeframe weed seeds survive within the soil – is crucial to determining whether spraying or burial methods will be the most effective form of control.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) principal research scientist Dr Michael Widderick says driving down the weed seed bank is growers’ best defence against herbicide resistance issues and requires growers to deal with both the weed seeds already existing in the soil and stopping additional weed seeds from entering the soil.

“Weed seeds persist longer once they’re buried, especially for small-seeded species buried below one or two centimetres,” he said.

“For these species it is better to leave the seed on the soil surface as you know exactly where it is and the environment it is in.

“The key then is once you have a favourable environment for emergence, you really need to get on to them quickly when they’re small and you know your herbicide treatment is going to be effective.”

More information is available at www.grdc.com.au and at www.weedsmart.org.au.
 

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: June 25, 2014