Weed resistance management

As a general rule, overreliance on the same herbicide mode of actions increases the selection pressure and might lead to the development of herbicide weed resistance overtime. Within a crop rotation several measures are available to reduce this risk proactively.

Recommendations for proactive weed resistance management

Use agronomic measures to:
1. ensure high efficacy to avoid weed seed production
2. keep the soil seed bank on a low level
Soil cultivation of min 10 cm after harvest of the preceding crop is recommended
If necessary use a non-selective herbicide before sowing
If possible use a cover crop to reduce weed pressure
Respect crop rotations

Rotate different mode of actions: Use at least once in a 3-year crop rotation with winter cereals a pre-emergence/ early post-emergence herbicide active on monocotyledonous grasses and dicotyledonous weeds with a non-ALS inhibiting herbicide
In case of difficult conditions e.g. drought, appropriate sequence partners might help to ensure maximum weed control
Use the full dose rate (also in sequence partners)
Use the herbicide at the appropriate recommended growth stage of the weeds

Recommendations for specific weed resistance management

A rotation wide approach to resistance management should be adopted. Seek advice from a Basis qualified advisor on suitable management strategies for specific weeds.

Four practices contribute most to a weed resistance program

Weed resistance is a global problem and it is growing over the last few years. Resistances develop easily under situations of high selection pressure. This can be when you always use the same method to control a weed, eventually you will select for individuals that can survive. Therefore always keep the 4 principles to the right in mind for a successful weed resistance management strategy.