| Weed Control in Forage Legumes
Research Supervisors:
Dr Deirdre Lemerle, Dr Alan Kaiser, Professor
Jim Pratley
Research Staff:
to be appointed
Funding:
$82,000 (GRDC)
Duration:
1997-2001
Project Summary:
This proposal is an adjunct to a current
research project in NSW Agriculture (DAN318SR)
which began in 1996, examining the profitability of
forage legumes grown for one year as "break crops"
within the cropping phase of the rotation. Forage
legumes offer potential for improved management and
reduced costs of weeds.
In the new project, an understanding of the population dynamics of forage legumes and
weeds will be the basis for improved control in the
future. This information will underpin the formulation
of optimal management strategies for forage
legumes over a wide area, which will both reduce
weed impact on production and help deplete weed
seed reserves in the soil. Herbicide use will be reduced
and the development of herbicide resistance retarded.
This project aims to develop weed control tactics
for forage legumes grown in the cropping phase of
the rotation by determining:
• effect of forage legume species, sowing date
and seeding rate on establishment and early competition with weeds;
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• impact of time of removal of forage legumes
(as hay, silage or by grazing) on weed regrowth
and seed production and viability;
• influence of availability of resources
(nutrients and water) on competition balance
between weeds and forage legumes. |
