As the planting season approaches for wheat farmers, one of the biggest concerns they face involves weed control. Maintaining healthy crops requires proper management of weeds. Among all the types of weeds, grassy weeds and broadleaf weeds are the two most common types found in wheat fields. Combating these weeds is essential to achieving successful yields and profitability.
Grassy Weeds
Grassy weeds grow taller than wheat which results in competition for nutrients, water, and sunlight. These types of weeds have tough, long leaves with fibrous roots that tend to make harvesting difficult. If not well managed, grasy weeds can reduce the yield potential of wheat crops by up to 50%.
The best approach to preventing grassy weeds is through a well-timed pre-emergent herbicide application, soon after planting the seeds. A pre-emergent herbicide gives an adequate amount of time for the chemical to adhere to the soil, which creates a barrier toxic to the seeds and the young plant shoots. Proper application of the herbicides should guarantee a weed-free field for at least the first six weeks after planting.
Broadleaf Weeds
Broadleaf weeds, the second most common grassy weed, possess distinct, broad, flat leaves. These types of weeds grow next to wheat, reducing its nourishment supply. Broadleaf weeds reproduce quickly, which makes them much harder to manage. They also have nodes that cover along with the stem, which can taint the harvested wheat grains.
To manage broadleaf weeds, farmers should consider using an herbicide that targets those weeds and leaves the wheat unaffected. Post-emergent herbicides are a good option for destroying broadleaf weeds. These types of herbicides help farmers target individual broadleaf weeds, leaving the wheat unaffected.
Some farmers have the habit of over-relying on a particular herbicide, rendering it ineffective. Overusing chemicals can result in weeds developing resistance that makes their eradication more challenging. For that reason, farmers should rotate herbicides to prevent individual weed species from developing resistance.
Conclusion
Weed management is crucial for any producer intending to get a high-yield crop. Combining pre and post-emergent herbicides can help control weed growth during the entire growing season. Farmers need to understand the direction on the herbicide label to ensure the weeds do not outgrow wheat as well as the guidelines regarding the timing of the application. By combining pre and post-emergent herbicides, farmers can expect successful control of broad leaf and grassy weeds in their wheat crops.