Harvest Weed Seed Control

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Harvest Weed Seed Control for the Southern Region

Project Partners: FarmLink, Southern Farming Systems, GRDC
Project Code: SFS00032

Background

Integrated weed management (IWM) systems use a range of cultural practices to control weeds in conjunction with herbicides. Practices such as crop competition, grazing, burning, cutting, cultivation, and weed seed removal are the main tools used at present. The aim of IWM is to take advantage of every opportunity presented to control weeds and reduce weed seed bank numbers. Harvest weed control measures such as seed destructors, chaff carts, bailing stubble residue and windrow burning are all alternative methods of control being implemented.

This project aims to measure the suitability of each of these practices in relation to the efficacy in reducing weed seed bank numbers across a range of weed species and crop types.

The efficacy of variations in how each practice is implemented according to local focus will also be investigated. For example – harvest height, timing, windrow structure, windrow chute design, harvest efficacy and weed seed escape routes. This project addresses the economic impacts of the range of practices used at each site.
This is a collaborative project is led by SFS and involves three other organisations. SFS has engaged FarmLink to carry out work in the Harden area. 

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