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Western Australia - Trials examine barley ability to beat weeds


Western Australia
August 25, 2014


DAFWA researcher Georgia Oliver looks at the weed growth in barley trial plot at Esperance. Trials comparing how 12 barley varieties compete against weeds, annual ryegrass and oats, will be detailed at upcoming field days.

Department of Agriculture and Food trials comparing how barley varieties compete against weeds, annual ryegrass and oats, will be detailed at upcoming field days.

Researcher Georgia Oliver said the work, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, would deliver up-to-date information on weed competitiveness as growers embraced a suite of new barley varieties.

“We already know that you can increase barley’s competitiveness by sowing at a narrow row spacing, higher seeding rates and by choosing a competitive variety,” Ms Oliver said.

“Work several years ago found that Baudin and Hamelin were the most competitive varieties against ryegrass competition of the six varieties tested.

“They were deemed more competitive because they had a greater ability to suppress ryegrass tiller production and had a lower level of grain yield loss due to the competition.

“But with growing popularity of new barley varieties, such as Hindmarsh, farmers are questioning their weed competitiveness.”

Weed competition trials are underway at Wongan Hills, Cunderdin, Katanning and Gibson comparing 12 barley varieties against varying levels of weed competition. The varieties being tested include varieties like Hindmarsh and Scope CL, but also the new varieties like Compass and La Trobe.

“We are trying to identify the scale of differences that may exist in the ability of different varieties to suppress weeds,” Ms Oliver said.

“We are also measuring the potential impact of the weeds on grain yield and profitability and whether or not barley varieties differ in their reaction to ryegrass and oat competition.”

The weed competition levels include four levels: no added weeds; 100 ryegrass plants/m2, 200 ryegrass plants/m2 and 75 oat plants/m2. The barley has been planted to establish 150 barley plants/m2.

“In spring, weed suppression will be determined by measuring barley and weed (ryegrass and oat) tillers numbers,” she said.

“At harvest, we will measure barley plant height, barley grain yield and assess the grain quality.”

The latest information on this work will be on display at the upcoming field days: WANTFA Spring Field Day at Cunderdin on Tuesday 2 September; Esperance Downs Research Station field day on Thursday 11 September; and the Katanning field day on Thursday 9 October.



More news from: Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries


Website: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au

Published: August 25, 2014

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