Crop competition

Optimise crop growth

We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands of the weeds, and will also reduce seed set of the weeds compared to an un-competitive crop. In other words more crop, fewer weeds.

There are six main aspects of crop competition:

  1. Higher seeding rate
  2. Narrow row spacing
  3. Orientation of crop – a crop sown east – west will give your crop enough sunlight, and shade the furrows to starve weeds of sunlight
  4. Vigorous crop traits
  5. Soil health – give your crop the best chance by having healthy soil
  6. Time of sowing – early sowing is usually best

It’s hard to get all of the six points above right, and growers need not aspire to practise all six of these competition factors, but they can use a range of these practices to ensure that their crops have a fighting chance against the weeds.

The checklist:

  • Adopt at least one competitive strategy, but two is better.
  • Target higher plant populations using increased seeding rates, weed-free seed tested for germination, vigour and 1,000 seed weight.
  • Aim for even seed distribution and establishment.
  • Sow competitive crop types and varieties.
  • Improve soil health (fertility and structure) and crop nutrition, e.g., soil amelioration (if necessary), no-till, stubble retention, nutrient budgeting.
  • Utilise early sowing and adopt East/West sowing if practical.
  • Reduce row spacing where possible.

You can learn more about crop competition in our free online course, Crop Competition 101.

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Optimise crop growth We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands […]...
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Optimise crop growth We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands […]...
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Case Study
Case Study

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Podcasts

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Case Studies

View all
Case Study
Case Study

Langley family, Winchelsea, Vic

The Langley's farming system demonstrates how alleviating soil constraints can benefit both crop production and weed suppression. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Craig Bignell & Sarah Robinson, Broomehill, WA

The WeedSmart Big 6 is keeping weed numbers down and reducing the impact of herbicide resistance on the Bignell’s mixed farming enterprise. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Krui Pastoral Co, Condamine, Qld

East-west sowing is a legacy of the Hamilton's land clearing for livestock, providing paddock-wide weed suppression. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Slarke family, Lake Grace WA

The Slarke family implement an integrated weed management program to minimise the impact of herbicide resistance on their farming business. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Rhys Daniels, Capella Qld

The Daniels run a predominantly summer-cropping program and have many tactics in place to keep their weed numbers down. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Michael & Marnie Fels, Wittenoom Hills WA

Narrow rows, stacked rotations and chaff lining at harvest are the central components to the Fels' weed management program. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Wayne Zeisemer, Bongeen Qld

Wayne Zeisemer tackles hard-to-kill weeds with an optical spot sprayer, residual herbicides, strategic tillage in the fallow and zonal tillage to prepare a weed-free seedbed. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Simon Burgess, Conara Tasmania

Reconfiguring paddocks for irrigation can bring up many issues related to previous management and land use, including weeds. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Michael Nichols, Sisters Creek, Tas

When herbicide resistant annual ryegrass arrived on their farm Michael Nichols knew he needed to prevent a ‘stop farming’ event. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

I’Anson Family Farms, Marrabel SA

Kym and Katie I’Anson are treating the serious soil constraints on their farms to grow more even crops and squeeze out the weeds. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Jamie and Susie Grant, Jimbour Qld

Proactive use of automated optical weed detection technology, allows continuous spraying and treating smaller and smaller weeds. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Peter and Kylie Bach, Pittsworth Qld

Peter and Kylie Bach are using crops to compete with weeds throughout the year, aiming for 130% utilisation of their cropping land. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Single family, Coonamble NSW

The Singles gain good weed control year round using crops and fallow in both winter and summer on their farm near Coonamble. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Jason Rogers, Moree NSW

Keeping weed numbers down, managing patches and minimising weed seed set has been a high priority for Jason Rogers, Moree. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Andrew Kenny, Badgingarra WA

Andrew and Gina Kenny (Badgingarra, WA) use an integrated program of crop rotation, mouldboard ploughing, grazing and chaff lining to keep their weed numbers low. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Stephen and Michelle Hatty, Matong NSW

The Hatty family uses a double break crop sequence strategy of a pulse then canola, followed by wheat then barley to put firm downward pressure on the weed seed bank. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Tim Rethus, Horsham Vic

Wimmera grower Tim Rethus and his family are taking an integrated approach to the weed management with a strong focus on weed-free crops. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Bruce family, Alford SA

Harvest weed seed control helps bring down grass weed numbers in the Bruce brothers' continuous cropping business. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Edwards family, Port Broughton SA

Pete Edwards is doing everything in his power to stop herbicide resistance in brome grass and wild radish. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Gary Lang – Wickepin, WA

Sowing early also means the Langs can make use of trifluralin to provide pre-emergent weed control until the crop canopy closes. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Kohlhagen Family, NSW

The Kohlhagens have developed and implemented a comprehensive weed management program for their 100 per cent cropping operation in southern NSW. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study News

Making clean seed your business

Grading and cleaning seed for planting removes weed seeds and selects the largest seeds with high vigour to out-compete weeds next season. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Mark Sandow, SA

Herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass has been an ongoing challenge for grain producers in the Mintaro area of South Australia since the 1980s. Read More...
Case Study
Case Study

Colin McAlpine, WA

Colin has thrown everything he can at reducing the weed burden on his farm while taking all precautions to protect the available herbicide modes of action. Read More...

Videos

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Beating barley grass despite resistance and dormancy challenges

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How faba beans pack a punch against sowthistle

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Season long control with crop competition

Optimise crop growth We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands […]...
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Farming moisture : Beating weeds

Optimise crop growth We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands […]...
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Soil health produces more crop, less weeds

Optimise crop growth We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands […]...
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Video

Rod Birch on how the Big 6 is keeping weeds at bay at Catalina Farms

Rod Birch (Coorow, WA) gives an overview of what Big 6 principles are working for them. He also explas how they're approaching weed control at new property acquisition, 'Koobabbie', which hadn't changed hands for 115 years. Read More...
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Video

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Agronomists Peter McKenzie and Angus Dalgliesh discuss the weed control tactics their clients have been using to deal with their weed challenges.  Read More...
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Ryegrass management in the High Rainfall Zone – What have we learnt?

Join Dr Chris Preston (University of Adelaide) and James Manson (Southern Farming Systems) as they discuss how the WeedSmart’s Big 6 strategies are best utilised to combat annual ryegrass in the High Rainfall Zone of South Eastern Australia. Read More...
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Optimise crop growth We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands […]...
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Optimise crop growth We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands […]...
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Webinar

WeedSmart in HRZ – practical options for dealing with ryegrass

Optimise crop growth We don’t want to give the weeds a free kick by growing un-competitive crops. Crop competition with weeds is a double-edged sword. There is the effect of the weeds on the crop, and the effect of the crop on the weeds. A competitive crop will suffer less yield loss at the hands […]...

Fact Sheets

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Fact Sheet

Control barley grass in LRZ farming systems

Barley grass in Southern and Western regions requires 3 to 4 years of seed set control to run down the weed seed bank. Read More...
Fact Sheet

Wild radish factsheet

Growers are adopting diverse and integrated control strategies to manage herbicide resistant wild radish populations. Read More...
Fact Sheet

Northern IWM factsheet – common sowthistle

Understand the ecology of common sowthistle and effective management tactics. Read More...
Fact Sheet

Windmill grass – Northern Region

Understand the ecology and effective management tactics to better manage this key weed. Read More...

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