Weed control

Do you manage weed control well?

What are Evil Weeds?

A weed is defined as any plant species, whether broad-leaved or narrow-leaved, that grows in undesirable locations. Accurate identification and knowledge of species such as Digitaria ischaemum y Urochloa subquadripara are crucial for effective management.

The definition of "weed" could be explained as a broad-leaved or narrow-leaved weed that develops in an undesirable place.

A good management programme is needed to keep these to minimum levels, which requires knowledge of both the different species and how to eradicate them. Common herbaceous species such as Digitaria ischaemum o Urochloa subquadripara may appear similar when subjected to low mowings, but the Digitaria ischaemum will be easier to remove than the Urochloa subquadripara.

Life cycles and their impact on control

Adaptation of weeds to climatic conditions

Knowledge of the life cycles of these weeds can help with optimal weed control. These life cycles are affected by rising temperatures in summer and falling temperatures in autumn.. A treatment based on the degree days can help us in these tasks (Elmore et al., 2014; Fidanza et al., 1996).

The implementation of management programmes that prevent the formation of viable seeds is a vital component for maximum efficiency in these tasks, particularly in heavily trafficked areas. Many of the problematic weeds that we see on golf courses produce large numbers of seeds that return to the soil, thus the Poa annua can produce up to more than 2500 seeds per square metre in the first 2.5 cm of soil (Watschke et al., 1979). This is why pre-emergence treatments are essential.

Management and Control Techniques

Chemical Control and Herbicide Resistance

Herbicide use has been the cornerstone of weed control. However, the emergence of herbicide resistance in species such as Poa annua and Eleusine indica underlines the need for an integrated management approach, including rotation of herbicides with different modes of action to mitigate selection of resistant biotypes.

Resilience Management Strategies

Resistance management should focus on diversified herbicide use, integration of non-chemical control methods and continuous monitoring of herbicide efficacy (Beckie, 2006).

Biotypes for weed control

There are biotypes of weeds with resistance to pre- and post-emergence herbicides, such as Poa annua and Eleusine indica due to the non-rotation of herbicides with different modes of action. In these situations, the weeds that survive these treatments are the ones that become predominant; they are weeds with genetics that admit these herbicides. The solutions to these problems involve avoiding herbicides with similar mechanisms of action to those that are no longer effective. Thus, if there is resistance to acetolactate inhibitor (ASL) herbicides, such as Cubix (with active material foramsulfuron), other herbicides with the same mode of action should not be used.

Below we present weeds susceptible to resistance and their herbicides: