Herbicide Application Strategies for the Control of Rigid Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Wide-Row Faba Bean (Vicia faba) in Southern Australia

Abstract

Two field experiments were undertaken at Roseworthy, South Australia from 2006 to 2007 to evaluate the performance of herbicide application strategies for the control of herbicide-resistant rigid ryegrass in faba bean grown in wide rows (WR). The standard farmer practice of applying postsowing PRE (PSPE) simazine followed by POST clethodim to faba bean grown in WR provided consistent and high levels of rigid ryegrass control (≥ 96%) and caused a large reduction (P < 0.05) in spike production (≤ 20 spikes m−2) as compared with nontreated control (560 to 722 spikes m−2). Furthermore, this herbicide combination resulted in greatest yield benefits for WR faba bean (723 to 1,046 kg ha−1). Although PSPE propyzamide used in combination with shielded interrow applications of glyphosate or paraquat provided high levels of rigid ryegrass control (≥ 93%), these treatments were unable to reduce ryegrass spike density within the crop row (20 to 54 spikes m−2) to levels acceptable for continued cropping. Furthermore, a yield reduction (13 to 29%) was observed for faba bean in treatments with shielded application of nonselective herbicides and could be related to spray drift onto lower leaves. These findings highlight that shielded interrow spraying in WR faba bean could play an important role in the management of rigid ryegrass in southern Australia. However, timing of shielded interrow applications on weed control, crop safety, and issues concerning integration with more effective early-season control strategies require attention.