Burial and subsequent growth of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) and ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus) following strategic deep tillage

Authors

Catherine Borger, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
George Mwenda, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Sarah Collins, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Stephen Davies, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentFollow
Arslan Peerzada Dr, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Andrew Van Burgel, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-20-2024

Journal Title

Weed Science

ISSN

1550-2759

Keywords

weed management, weed seed ecology, emergence, soil renovation, soil amelioration, model, decision support tool

Disciplines

Agricultural Science | Agriculture | Biosecurity | Weed Science

Abstract

Soil amelioration via strategic deep tillage is occasionally utilised within the conservation tillage systems to alleviate soil constraints, but its impact on weed seed burial and subsequent growth within the agronomic system is poorly understood. This study assessed the effects of different strategic deep tillage practices, including soil loosening (deep ripping), soil mixing (rotary spading), or soil inversion (mouldboard plough), on weed seed burial and subsequent weed growth, compared to a no-till control. The tillage practices were applied in 2019 at Yerecoin and Darkan, Western Australia, and data on weed seed burial and growth was collected during the following three-year winter crop rotation (2019–2021). Soil inversion buried 89% of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) and ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus Roth) seeds to a depth of 10–20 cm at both sites, while soil loosening and mixing left between 31% and 91% of the seeds in the top 0–10 cm of soil, with broad variation between sites. Few seeds were buried beyond 20 cm despite tillage working depths exceeding 30 cm at both sites. Soil inversion reduced the density of L. rigidum tomodel, which predicted weed density following strategic tillage with greater accuracy for soil inversion than for loosening or mixing. The findings provide important insights into the effects of strategic deep tillage on weed management in conservational agricultural systems and demonstrate the potential of models for optimising weed management strategies.

Recommended Citation

Borger, C, Mwenda, G, Collins, S, Davies, S, Peerzada, A, and Van Burgel, A. (2024), Burial and subsequent growth of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) and ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus) following strategic deep tillage. Weed Science, 1-32.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bs_research/2