The chemical control of wild radish

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Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 Western Australia, Series 3

Volume 3

Number 3 May- June,1954 Article 12

5-1954

The chemical control of wild radish The chemical control of wild radish

G R. W Meadly

Department of Agriculture G A. Pearce

Department of Agriculture

Follow this and additional works at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3

Recommended Citation Recommended Citation

Meadly, G R. W and Pearce, G A. (1954) "The chemical control of wild radish," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3: Vol. 3: No. 3, Article 12.

Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3/vol3/iss3/12

This article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agriculture at Digital Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 by an authorized administrator of Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected].

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By G. R. W. MEADLY, M.Sc, Officer in Charge, Weeds and Seeds Branch, a n d G. A. PEARCE, B.Sc. (Agric), Botanist.

W

ILD radish (Raphanus r a p h a n i s t r u m ) a n d wild turnip (Brassica Tournefortii) occur over a very wide area in Western Australia and are two of the most troublesome weeds of cereal crops. In a period of three years the area sprayed with hormone-like weed-killers for the control of these weeds has increased from experi-

mental proportions to an estimated total of 400,000 acres in one season.

Although results from the application of these chemicals to wild t u r n i p have been uniformly good, in most cases, particularly with aircraft application, t h e control of wild radish has not been completely satisfactory. Most of the spraying has been undertaken with the amine and sodium salt of 2,4-D and the sodium salt of M.O.P.A.

With a view to comparing these t r e a t - ments and ascertaining whether better r e - sults could be obtained with the esters of 2,4-D, a trial with wild radish in wheat was commenced at Southern Brook on 7th

Fig. l.—The first reaction of wild radish to hormone-like weed-killers—a twisting and "propping" of the foliage.

August, 1953. The sodium salt of M.C.P.A.

and the amine, ethyl ester and butoxyethanol ester of 2,4-D were applied by means of a low volume boom at the rates of four and six ounces of acid equivalent in five gallons of water per acre.

The butoxyethanol ester was included because it is less volatile t h a n the more frequently used ethyl ester and therefore has less risk of damaging nearby susceptible crops. Cereals are known to be less tolerant to both these preparations, how- ever, and results had to be gauged on the effects on t h e cereal as well as the weed.

The chemicals mentioned are available in a number of proprietary lines. Table 2 gives details of those t h a t have come to the notice of this Department.

Three replications of each t r e a t m e n t were made to plots 12 feet wide and three chains in length. At the time of spraying the growth of the crop was even, t h e wheat being about eight inches high and stooling. There was a moderate to fairly h?avy infestation of wild radish a t t h e rosette stage with foliage 6-8 inches in length. The soil was of a sandy n a t u r e and the weather was fine.

The effects of the treatments were assessed by visual observations at several times during the season and also by yields of grain. The four ounces of acid equivalent per acre of M.C.P.A. and 2,4-D amine affected a proportion of the wild radish plants but did not give a satisfactory degree of control. The six ounce rate of both gave practical control although some plants recovered and set seed. There waf

309

Journal of agriculture Vol. 3 1954

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no visual difference between the two types of ester but the results with four ounces of acid equivalent per acre were somewhat better than those with six ounces of amine and M.C.P.A. The six ounces rate of the esters gave complete control of the radish.

Table 1 shows the various treatments along with the estimated degree of control of wild radish and actual crop yields.

TABLE I.

T r e a t m e n t . C h e m i c a l .

O u n c e s Crop acid yields e q u i v a l e n t p e r a c . P e r c e n t .

per a c . b u s h e l s . "

M.C.P.A.

2,4-D a m i n e 2,4-D e s t e r 2,4-D.L.V. ester M.C.P.A.

2,4-D a m i n e 2,4-D e s t e r 2,4-D.L.V. e s t e r

24 25 24J 25 23 24 24 23

Control.

60 75 100 100 80 85 100 100

Although there was a marked difference in the degree of control of wild radish there was no significant difference between treatments as far as yields were concerned.

The long season and favourable moisture conditions in the spring undoubtedly minimised the affect of weeds on yields.

Unfortunately, owing to a misunderstand- ing, yields were not taken from unsprayed control areas but these carried a heavy growth of wild radish reaching higher than the crop. Harvesting of the un- treated area was very difficult owing to

choking of the comb and the resulting grain contained a quantity of wild radish seeds.

As a result of the trials that have been described along with field observations it is possible to make some recommendations concerning wild radish which should achieve better and more consistant results.

1. Time of Spraying.—This is best corre- lated with the growth stage of both the crop and the weeds. The "safe period" for wheat is between stooling at 6-8 inches in height and the early "boot" stage when the head is enclosed in the sheath of t h e flag leaf. Risk of damage continues during pollination but resistance again in- creases at the late "milk" and "soft dough'r

stages. We have had little experience with spraying weeds in oats and barley but it is known that oats is a more sensitive crop than wheat with barley intermediate. De- pression of yield with oats has occurred even with spraying carried out at the time considered most appropriate.

Wild radish plants should be sprayed when small as they are then most vulner- able to the chemical and are also destroyed before becoming an important competitor for the crop. Furthermore the cereal then provides the weed with little protection from the chemical. When wheat is 6-8

Pig. 2.—A wheat crop containing wild radish at the growth stage suitable for spraying.

310

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Weeds make waste

Weed infestation considerably re- duces crop yield by robbing the soil of moisture and plant food, causing "strangulation" of growth and difficulty in harvesting.

Shell have developed a range of selective Weedkillers that ensuie a good clean crop. Shell offers you a Technical Field Advisory Service that gives practical help in

^ k e e p i n g your land and crops free of destructive weeds. Ask your local Shell

Agent for details.

SHELL WEEDKILLER R A N G E I N C L U D E S a number of specialised Weed- killers developed to combat weeds that cause crop loss. The main Shell Weedkillers are :

SHELL WEEDKILLER ' D ' for controlling weeds in cereai crops, i.e., Skeleton weed Must- ard, etc.

SHELL WEEDKILLER

for controlling weeds in pastures and in crops under sown with clovers.

SHELL WEEDKILLER ' E ' for controlling 'harder to ki pastoral weeds.

SHELL WEEDKILLER

for controlling blackberry, gorse, Ti tree, eucalypts and other perennial type woody weeds.

SHELL WEEDKILLER 4G ' for controlling couch, kikuyu and other grasses.

SHELL WEEDKILLER ' Q ' for controlling general weeds in orchards, vineyards roadsides and building sites.

S054I/24

Please mention the "Journal of Agriculture, W.A.," when writing to advertisers

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T H E G R E A T E S T G R I P O N E A R T H

P l e a s e m e n t i o n t h e "Journal of A g r i c u l t u r e , W . A . , " w h e n writing to a d v e r t i s e r s

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Pig. 3.—The effectiveness of the spray treatment Is illustrated by the dense growth of wild radish on an unsprayed strip in a crop near Northam. Field peas may be seen in the crop

in the right foreground.

inches high, usually most of the radish plants have germinated but are still re- latively small and susceptible. Undoubt- edly much spraying of wild radish is carried out too late to be most effective.

2. Conditions.—Fine, warm weather without a strong wind is desirable. Rain a few hours after treatment, particularly when using the ester, is unlikely to be detrimental but spraying should not be carried out when rain is imminent. Weeds are most readily killed when making active growth and some poor results have fol- lowed spraying after a dry period when the growth of the weeds was retarded.

3. Type and Amount of Chemical.—The ester of 2,4-D is favoured for the treatment of wild radish in wheat. For general control purposes, providing conditions are favourable, four ounces of acid equivalent per acre is recommended. When complete control is desired, or application is being made by aircraft, six ounces should be applied. If M.C.P.A. or the amine or sodium salt of 2,4-D is used a minimum of six ounces of acid equivalent per acre is recommended.

When a crop is undersown with a legume the susceptibility of the species used must be taken into account. Although some information is available, tolerance trials with the Dwalganup strain of subterranean clover will be continued during the coming season. It is known that generally legumes are less affected by M.C.P.A. than by the ester of 2,4-D with the amine in an intermediate position.

Experiments and observations so far indicate that subterranean clover will withstand rates of at least eight ounces of acid equivalent per acre of the types mentioned but in a number of instances a delay in the flowering time has been noted. In short seasons this could mean that the soil may not remain moist long enough for seed setting to be completed.

Under such circumstances old-established pastures would normally develop the fol- lowing season from hard seeds in the soil but such a reserve would not exist in the first year of sowing.

It is stressed that the recommendations concerning the ester apply to wild radish.

Wild turnip is destroyed by four ounces

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of acid equivalent per acre of the ester but the same quantity of t h e other chemicals mentioned has also proved effective.

4. Accuracy of Treatment.—With t h e use of such very small quantities of chemicals it is obvious t h a t mixing must be done accurately and application made with precision. This calls for a spraying unit capable of giving an even distribu- tion with a low volume. Six to ten gallons of solution per acre are usually applied at a pressure of approximately 25 lb. per square inch. It is not sufficient to set t h e

gauge at a denned pressure, t h e n travel at a fixed speed and assume t h a t the estimated and required volume is being a p - plied. A constant check of the volume used against the acreage covered should be maintained and even partial blockage of jets should be corrected immediately.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Thanks are due to Messrs. Dwyer Bros., Southern Brook, who readily co-operated and made their property available for experiments.

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