Improved management of weeds in cotton and grains farming systems

The Australian cotton industry has had a history of an effective Integrated Weed Management (IWM) system with the widespread use of a range of weed control tactics including residual and knockdown herbicides, tillage and chipping. However, effective weed control is increasingly challenged by the emergence of glyphosate tolerant and resistant species. Herbicide resistance and weed species changes are necessitating the re-incorporation of residual herbicides and tillage into the system, but there is uncertainty as to their potential damaging effects on higher yielding cotton.

This project will investigate how residual herbicides and other alternative tactics can be used in cotton, grains and fallow, developing a system to manage weeds, while limiting the negative effects of these tactics on cotton and alternate crops. The use of non-chemical options will be evaluated. Outputs from this project will strengthen the crop management plan for herbicide tolerant cotton and provide practical options for weed management.