Crop weeds

Weeds are estimated to cost Australian agriculture more than $2.5 billion per year. Understanding weeds and the various methods to control them ultimately reduces costs and improves productivity.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development conducts research into the management of weeds and has developed integrated weed management (IWM) packages, that incorporate a number of varied weed control options, including chemical, physical and biological strategies, are vital for sustainable weed management in this state.

Weed populations that have developed herbicide resistance, where standard herbicide treatments are no longer effective, pose an increasing threat to WA's agricultural production.

Articles

Residual herbicides - carryover and behaviour in dry conditions

8 June 2018

The term 'residual' applies to a number of herbicides that have a long lasting activity in the soil. These herbicides are often applied directly to the soil prior to planting crops, pre-emergent.
Effect of spray-topping on pasture legumes

28 July 2014

Spray-topping is a very effective method for managing annual grass seed set in pastures.
Crop-topping pulse crops

28 July 2014

'Crop-topping' is the late application of herbicides to prevent weed seed-set.
Windmill grass

23 May 2012

Windmill grass (Chloris truncata) is a native species and is the tenth most common summer weed species in the Western Australian wheatbelt.
Annual ryegrass

6 October 2011

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is one of the most serious and costly weeds of annual winter cropping systems in southern Australia.
Herbicide application

18 January 2011

Herbicides can be applied by a variety of means including boom sprayers, aerial spraying, misters, blanket wipers, rope wick applicators, weed seekers and back-pack sprayers.
Doublegee

3 February 2011

Doublegee or spiny emex is a significant weed in Western Australia. It is a vigorous annual herb with a strong tap root and a long, fleshy, hairless stem.
Herbicide resistance

31 January 2011

Herbicide resistance is the inherited ability of an individual plant to survive a herbicide application that would kill a normal population of the same species.
Managing weeds in emerging crops

17 August 2017

Following the extended dry conditions this autumn, weeds are now emerging and becoming a challenge for growers to manage in paddocks that may have patchy crops, crops with staggered emergence or no
Developing an integrated weed management (IWM) plan

15 February 2011

Integrated weed management (IWM) is a system for managing weeds over the long term, and is particularly useful for managing and minimising herbicide resistance.