Hub supports new Pre-emergent Herbicide Decision Guide
Effective weed control is vital for the success of dry and early seeding. During a dry start where weed germination is minimal, the traditional knockdown herbicide options are not effective for seedbed preparation.
Pre-emergent herbicides are the more favoured option, but herbicide selection can be challenging when seasonal rainfall is uncertain.
To help inform decisions about herbicide selection, the Hart Field-Site Group developed a guide to help identify which pre-emergent herbicides are suitable. The guide assumes loam soils and a knife-point press wheel system as well as their risk factors across different rainfall outcomes.
The guide includes two easy to read charts, one for wheat and one for barley, using simple colour-coding to help you assess crop safety, expected levels of grass weed control, a rating for herbicide mobility and some concise notes as a further explainer.
SA Drought Hub Farming Systems Specialist – Adoption Officer Rachel May, says that supporting this initiative aligned with the Hub’s objectives of building resilience in dry times, through improving crop establishment in a late break to the season.
“The SA Drought Hub team were keen to support the guide as many Hub partners and growers throughout the state had expressed concerns about managing residues, especially this season where conditions are really dry.
“We were excited to see the collaborative nature of the project which brought together the Hart Field-Site Group, along with pre-emergent herbicide expert Professor Chris Preston, from the University of Adelaide. This collaboration helped ensure the guide was driven from the ground-up and supported by technical experts.”
This guide has been put together using expert advice with funding from the SA Drought Hub, which received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, in alignment with work being undertaken on the GRDC RiskWi$e project.
Download it here: Pre-emergent herbicide decision guide
For more information on the project visit: Pre-emergent herbicide decision making for dry sown crops – SA Drought Hub
