Weeds are one of the major problems encountered by farmers in wheat fields. These weeds not only compete with wheat for nutrients, sunlight, and water but also reduce the quality and yield of the crop. Weeds are of two types, one being the grassy weed and the other being the broad leaf weed. In wheat, the common grassy weeds are wild oat, volunteer wheat, and Japanese brome, while the common broadleaf weeds are wild mustard, field pennycress, and stinkweed. To control these weeds, farmers employ various methods, including the use of herbicides, crop rotation, mechanical control, and cultural control.
To control both grassy weeds and broadleaf weeds in wheat fields, combine control is the most effective method. Combine control is a process in which the weeds are controlled while harvesting the crop. This method is cost-effective and saves time, as it does not require any additional labor.
The first step in combine control is to identify the weeds present in the wheat field. Once the type of weeds is identified, the appropriate herbicide or chemical is used to control the weeds. Herbicides like Axial XL, Glean, or Osprey are used to control grassy weeds, while herbicides like Express, Bromoxynil, and 2,4-D are used to control broadleaf weeds. The herbicides should be sprayed at the right time and with the right dose to avoid damage to the crop.
After the application of herbicides, the next step is to properly adjust the combine settings to remove the weeds during the harvesting process. The combine should be set to cut the wheat at a low height to remove the weeds. The concave clearance should be set to a low level to remove the grassy weeds effectively. The reel speed should also be adjusted to ensure that the weeds are lifted and cut by the cutter bar.
The combine control method is also an environmentally friendly method of weed control. This method prevents the spreading of weed seeds, which is common during mechanical or cultural control methods. The weed seeds are directly collected in the combine and can be disposed of properly.
In conclusion, combine control is an effective and efficient method to control both grassy weeds and broadleaf weeds in wheat fields. The method is cost-effective, saves time, and is an environmentally friendly way of weed control. The proper identification of weeds, appropriate use of herbicides, and proper adjustment of combine settings can ensure better results in controlling weeds during the harvesting process.