Overdependence on Agrichemicals – UNFS 2016 Barley Grass Trial

Barry Mudge¹

Barry Mudge Consulting for Upper North Farming Systems¹

Funding: CWF00020

Key Words: Barley grass trial barley grass, low rainfall, upper north

Key messages

• The 2016 trial results looking at cultural control techniques on barley grass largely confirmed the 2015 findings

• Increasing the seeding rate of barley in the presence of barley grass can provide substantial benefits to both yield and reduced weed seed carry-over. This applies particularly to competitive varieties such as Fathom, but also to less competitive varieties such as Hindmarsh.
• In contrast, doubling the seeding rate of wheat had no beneficial effect on yield or weed carry-over
• Doubling the district practice seeding rate in barley substantially reduced the competitive effect of barley grass to the stage where crop yields were similar to those check plots where herbicide was applied.
• During the trials, barley has consistently outperformed wheat in its ability to compete with barley grass, particularly when sown at high seeding rates.

Acknowledgements

The Ritchie family from Appila for their enthusiasm in providing a suitable site and regular weather updates.

Nigel Wilhelm and Peter Telfer (SARDI) for assisting with trial design and trial seeding and harvest.

Rochelle Wheaton and Sarah Noack (Hart Field Site) for trial assessments

Amanda Cook (SARDI) for statistical analysis.

GRDC for funding the trial under Project No CWF00020 ‘Overdependence on Agrochemicals’