Advances in Weed Management for Organic Cereal Production in Southeast Australia

V. Burnett¹, T. Enshaw¹ and S. Sutherland²

Abstract
Organic cereal production in southeast Australia is challenging for producers due to a range of influences such as weeds and low soil available phosphorus.

Two experiments were conducted on a certified organic property at Berrigan NSW during 2001-2003 to investigate ‘within crop’ weed management and forage crop management for weed control.

Sowing later using a short season wheat cultivar did not affect yield and reduced (P<0.05) levels of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.). Incorporating a forage crop into the rotation prior to sowing a cereal resulted in improved (P<0.05) weed management for the cereal crop, in comparison to retaining annual pasture. There were no differences between forage treatments in weed management in the following wheat crop. Where forage was cut for silage and then grazed, grain yield was higher (P<0.05) than where forage was only grazed or cut for silage, or where annual pasture was retained.


Source
Köpke et al (Eds) (2005): Researching Sustainable Systems. Proceedings of the First Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR). ISOFAR / IOL / FiBL, Bonn and Frick; ISBN 3-906081-76-1


Author Locations and Affiliations
(1) Primary Industries Research Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, Rutherglen Centre, RMB 1145 Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen Victoria 3685 E-Mail: viv.burnett@dpi.vic.gov.au
(2) NSW Department of Primary Industries, Yanco Agricultural Institute, Private Mail Bag, Yanco New South Wales 2703


Paper copy and PDF version may be ordered from FiBL at https://www.fibl.org/shop/index.php) FiBL order number 1394.


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