Using row orientation, row spacing and variety selection as weed management tools – Bithramere 2012

Abstract

Key findings • Row spacing did not significantly reduce the impact of weed competition on grain yield. However, row orientation and variety selection were found to be useful cost effective tools to reduce weed competition. • A vigorous variety such as Skipper[PBR] reduced weed competition by potentially 30–40%, while an east-west row orientation was shown to reduce weed competition by approximately 40% compared to the north-south row orientation. • Although row spacing was not shown to reduce weed competition it was shown to limit yield potential by up to 11% when a 50 cm row spacing was used compared to a 30 cm spacing.