Weed Management in Sugarcane Manual Acknowledgements
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TM Weed Management in Sugarcane Manual Acknowledgements • Bayer Australia Limited • Nufarm Limited • Sumitomo Chemical Australia Pty Ltd • Barry Callow – MSF Agriculture • Allan Blair – Department of Agriculture and Fisheries • Jack Robertson – Department of Agriculture and Fisheries • Emilie Fillols – SRA Limited • Phil Ross – SRA Limited • Alexa Adamson – SRA Limited More information Authors We are committed to providing the Australian sugarcane Written by Phil Ross and Emilie Fillols. industry with resources that will help to improve its productivity, profitability and sustainability. Edition A variety of information products, tools and events which Sugar Research Australia Limited 2017 edition of the complement this manual are available including: Weed Management Manual published in 2010 by BSES Limited. • Information sheets and related articles ISBN: 978-0-949678-38-6 • Publications including soil guides, technical manuals and field guides Contact details • Research papers • Extension and research magazines Sugar Research Australia PO Box 86 • E-newsletters and industry alerts Indooroopilly QLD 4068 Australia • Extension videos Phone: 07 3331 3333 • Online decision-making and identification tools Fax: 07 3871 0383 • Training events. Email: [email protected] These resources are available on the SRA website and many items can be downloaded for mobile and tablet use. Hard copies for some items are available on request. We recommend that you subscribe to receive new resources automatically. Simply visit our website and click on Subscribe to Updates. www.sugarresearch.com.au © Copyright 2017 by Sugar Research Australia Limited. All rights reserved. No part of the Weed Management in Sugarcane Manual (this publication), may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Sugar Research Australia Limited. Disclaimer: In this disclaimer a reference to ‘SRA’, ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ means Sugar Research Australia Limited and our directors, officers, agents and employees. Although we do our very best to present information that is correct and accurate, we make no warranties, guarantees or representations about the suitability, reliability, currency or accuracy of the information we present in this publication, for any purposes. Subject to any terms implied by law and which cannot be excluded, we accept no responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by you as a result of the use of, or reliance on, any materials and information appearing in this publication. You, the user, accept sole responsibility and risk associated with the use and results of the information appearing in this publication, and you agree that we will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including through negligence) arising out of, or in connection with the use of this publication. We recommend that you contact our staff before acting on any information provided in this publication. Warning: Our tests, inspections and recommendations should not be relied on without further, independent inquiries. They may not be accurate, complete or applicable for your particular needs for many reasons, including (for example) SRA being unaware of other matters relevant to individual crops, the analysis of unrepresentative samples or the influence of environmental, managerial or other factors on production. Table of contents Introduction 04 Herbicide suitability 47 Prevent weed seed spread by machinery 07 Herbicide application 112 Herbicide resistance 09 Nozzle selection guide 114 Selecting a nozzle 116 Mode of action 11 Nozzle charts and specifications 118 Environmental considerations 15 Quick calibrations 128 Water rate selection 131 Record keeping 21 Spray water quality 132 Selection guide 23 Mixing order 133 Minimising spray drift 134 Stage 1: Plant cane and ratoon cane on bare soil 25 Early emergence References 136 Stage 2: Plant cane and ratoon cane on bare soil 27 Appendices 138 3–4 leaf stage Stage 3: Plant cane and ratoon cane on bare soil 29 Appendix 1: Regional time-of-spraying constraints for 139 herbicides containing diuron Stooling Stage 4: Plant cane and ratoon cane on bare soil 32 Appendix 2: Additional legislative requirements for 142 the use of products containing diuron, Established cane hexazinone, atrazine or ametryn Stage 5: Ratoon cane on Green Cane Trash Blanket 34 Appendix 3: Understanding pesticide labels 143 Stage 6: Fallow management 37 Appendix 4: Setting up spray shields and hoods 146 Problem broadleaf weeds 41 Problem grass weeds 43 Appendix 5: Adjuvant table 149 04 Prevent weed seed Herbicide resistance Mode of action spread by machinery Environmental Record keeping Selection guide Herbicide considerations suitability Herbicide References Appendices application Introduction 05 Introduction This manual does not reproduce product labels in full. It does not replace the need to read, understand and follow label directions. Label instructions and legislative requirements take precedence over information in this manual, should discrepancies occur. Costings are indicative as at July 2016, and are included as a guide only. Prices may vary by retailer, pack size, brand and location of purchase. To the best of our knowledge, products mentioned are available as at July 2016; however product availability may change over time. Products mentioned are usually representative of a range of products available for specific active ingredients. Inclusion or non-inclusion of specific product names does not infer endorsement or non-endorsement of particular products. Yield loss from weed competition, combined with the Moves towards the use of minimum tillage have reduced cost of weed control in sugarcane in Australia, was soil disturbance and subsequent germination of weed estimated to exceed $70 million annually in 2000 seed, although these changed practices have resulted in (McMahon et al. 2000). SRA analysis in 2008 estimated wider use and greater reliance on herbicides to control the average value of lost yield due to sub-optimal weed weeds in ratoon cane. management to be $338 / ha (Gilmore, 2008). The inappropriate use of herbicides may have an adverse Effective weed management is most important in the environmental impact. These risks are minimised by early stages of crop development. Weeds compete with using the appropriate farm management strategies. sugarcane for light, nutrients and moisture, significantly These include timing of application, using recommended reducing yields (Figure 1) in a relatively short period rates, product choice, herbicide incorporation and use of of time. Implementing a timely, cost-effective weed band spraying. Choosing the right strategy will result in management strategy is vital to maximise yields. effective weed control and minimise off-farm impacts. Widespread use of Green Cane Trash Blanketing (GCTB) has also reduced the spectrum of weeds germinating. Integrated Weed Management (IWM) incorporates a grower’s knowledge of the physical attributes of the farm, identifies weed species and densities and the 120 products and equipment available for use. It is also 100 important that growers have a good understanding of the impact of adverse weather conditions, i.e. heavy 80 rain, on the timing of application of herbicides. 60 40 IWM enables growers to make informed decisions 20 about weed management strategies most appropriate Cane yield (t/ha) Cane for their farms. Understanding soil types, weed species 0 Full 4 8 12 No and product efficacy are the keys to successful weed weed weed management. control control Effective weed control until stalk height is at least Timing of weed control (weeks) 10 cm can make an extra $1400 per hectare total industry income, compared to poor control (based on A$440 per tonne sugar). Figure 1: Effect of delayed weed control in plant cane. 06 Integrated Weed Management Applying suitable herbicides A program consisting of both pre-emergent residual IWM allows a range of cost-effective management and post-emergent control is most valuable in techniques to be used in sequence to effectively control controlling weeds over a period of time. Care must be weeds in an environmentally responsible manner. This taken to choose the correct herbicide according to minimises the potential for weeds to set seed in all crop the soil type and weed species and to apply at the phases and therefore reduces the weed seedbank. These right time. techniques are listed below. Residual herbicides provide good insurance for a Reducing the weed seedbank weed-free crop. Weed pressures and risk should be evaluated in deciding on your herbicide strategy. Controlling weeds before seeds set in cane blocks and Residual herbicides prevent new germinating seeds areas adjacent to cane lands is an important strategy from growing. Residual herbicides are an important to minimise the impact of weeds on the farm. Weed tool in preventing herbicide resistance developing. seedbank reduction is the most cost-effective method in controlling weeds. Using mechanical control By preventing weed seed entering the paddock (slashing Mechanical control used in plant cane and non-trash adjacent headlands, spraying along fence lines and blanket systems (operations such as tillage, side dressing around hydrants, pumps, sheds, machinery, etc) the weed and filling-in) reduces weed populations. pressure in adjacent blocks of cane is greatly reduced. Rotate herbicide groups Rotation of herbicide