Pasture management and cultural methods for the control of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in wheat

Abstract

The effects of four pasture management treatments-haycutting, heavy grazing, burning and a control-and two cultural treatments,-mouldboard or disc ploughing-on the densities of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) under subsequent wheat crops, was measured in 16 experiments conducted from 1961 to 1968. Pasture management treatments before cropping significantly reduced subsequent ryegrass populations in first, second, third and fourth year crops, compared with the untreated control and increased grain yields in the first and second year crops. Subsequent ryegrass populations were reduced more by mouldboard ploughing than by disc ploughing and this was reflected in higher yield for all crops. The results indicate that these management and cultural methods may obviate the need for chemical control in first and second year crops.