Opportunities and challenges for harvest weed seed control in global cropping systems

Authors: WALSH, M - University Of Sydney; BROSTER, J - Charles Sturt University; SCHWARTZ-LAZARO, L - Louisiana State University; NORSWORTHY, J - University Of Arkansas; Davis, Adam; TIDEMANN, B - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada; BECKIE, H - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada; LYON, D - Washington State University; NEVE, P - University Of Warwick; BAGAVATHIANNAN, M - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2017
Publication Date: 11/28/2017
Citation: Walsh, M.J., Broster, J., Schwartz-Lazaro, L., Norsworthy, J.K., Davis, A.S., Tidemann, B., Beckie, H., Lyon, D., Neve, P., Bagavathiannan, M. 2017. Opportunities and challenges for harvest weed seed control in global cropping systems. Pest Management Science. 74(10):2235-2245. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4802.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4802

Interpretive Summary: Research and development efforts over the last two decades have established the efficacy of Harvest Weed Seed Control (HWSC) systems in Australian cropping systems where widespread adoption is now occurring. With similarly dramatic herbicide resistance issues now present across many of the world’s cropping systems, it is timely for HWSC systems to be considered for inclusion in weed management programs in these areas also. This review describes HWSC systems, the potential for this approach to weed control in several global cropping systems as well as limitations that need to be considered. As observed in Australia, the inclusion of HWSC systems to target weed seed production has provided critical support for the primary weed control practices (herbicides) where the resulting lower weed populations substantially reduce the risks of herbicide resistance evolution.

Technical Abstract: The introduction of mechanical harvesting and the retention of high proportions of weed seed at crop harvest created the opportunity to target weed seeds many decades ago; however, this approach to weed control has been largely neglected until more recently. The introduction and adoption of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) systems in Australia has been in response to very high frequencies of herbicide resistant weed populations. With diminishing herbicide resources, but the need to maintain as much as possible, highly productive reduced tillage and stubble retention practices, growers began to develop systems that targeted weed seed during crop harvest. Research and development efforts over the last two decades have established the efficacy of HWSC systems in Australian cropping systems where widespread adoption is now occurring. With similarly dramatic herbicide resistance issues now present across many of the world’s cropping systems, it is timely for HWSC systems to be considered for inclusion in weed management programs in these areas also. This review describes HWSC systems, the potential for this approach to weed control in several global cropping systems as well as limitations that need to be considered. As observed in Australia, the inclusion of HWSC systems to target weed seed production has provided critical support for the primary weed control practices (herbicides) where the resulting lower weed populations substantially reduce the risks of herbicide resistance evolution.