Methods for killing weeds in target areas
This weed control tactic involves controlling weeds once they have germinated, either before the crop has been sown or when they are seedlings within the crop.
Cultivation
Fallow or pre-sowing cultivation can kill many weeds including herbicide resistant populations. Cultivation is useful as a ‘one-off’ tactic in reduced tillage or no-till operations, and can be used as a non-herbicide component of a ‘double knock’ system.
Herbicides
Herbicides continue to play a vital role in integrated weed management. Better knowledge of the mechanisms and activity of herbicides will improve the impact and sustainability of herbicides as a weed management tactic. Herbicides include non-selective, pre-emergent and selective post-emergent products.
Weed control in wide-row cropping
Wide row cropping allows targeted weed control within the crop, using non-selective herbicides, to overcome herbicide resistant wild radish and annual ryegrass populations. However, overuse of non-selective herbicides can lead to resistance in these products.
Spot spraying
Techniques like spot spraying, chipping, hand roguing and wiper technologies can be used to target new weed infestations where weeds occur in low numbers and localised eradication is possible. More information can be found at the Herbicide application page.
Biological control
Biological control is the management of weeds using the weed's natural enemies (biological control agents). There are three generally recognised types of biological control: ‘classical’, ‘inundative’ and ‘conservation’.