Herbicide resistance has long been the bane of grains and cropping farmers and new solutions are helping to overcome this problem. 

Research headed by the Graham Centre and overseen by senior research fellow Dr William Brown is showing promising results. 

“Herbicide resistance is a challenge right across the country, and world wide,” Mr Brown told The Rural. However, on a positive note he said the Riverina and southern NSW had an advantage in terms of rotations because of the prevalence of traditional farming systems.

The use of pastures, or dual purpose crops such as grazing wheat, and then running livestock too offered an additional tool in crowding out weeds. 

Work at the trial plot began in the season of 2014 and is expected to conclude in 2018. Dr Brown said the crops at the site needed some rain.

“We have had 60 frosts and it is certainly behind for the growing season,” he said. “We could use some warm weather too.” 

In addition to rotations the trial is also investigating genetic traits that make some varieties of wheat and barley better at competing against weeds. Professor Leslie Weston of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences is also identifying weed suppressive traits in commercial grain cultivars.

“Tillering characteristics, both above and below the ground, along with canopy and root architecture are also important for the crops ability to out-compete the weeds. These characteristics also improve the yield potential by providing greater access to moisture and nutrients,” Dr Weston said. 

It’s hoped the findings can be used by plant breeders to incorporate these weed suppressive traits into more commercial grain cultivars.

“As more herbicide resistant weed populations develop it’s important for growers to look at other ways of managing weeds and growing highly competitive crops is one option.”