- Author: Konrad Mathesius
- Editor: Mark Lundy
- Editor: Brad Hanson
The heavy rains have stopped a lot of growers from getting into their wheat fields, and growers may be wondering what the best move is given the break in the weather. Our forecast for rain in the next 10 days looks spotty, and that has some implications for both nitrogen and herbicide management in small grains.
Nitrogen (N) management.
Studies and experience indicate that in-season applications of N provide a much better response to fertilizer than preseason applications. In years such as this, that is more likely the case because heavy early-season rainfall reduces the amount of plant available N in the root zone. Growers may be...
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
****UPDATE: DATE MOVED TO FRIDAY APRIL, 22nd TO AVOID RAIN***
Controlling Italian Ryegrass in California Small Grains
Friday, April 22, 2022, 8:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Intersection of Road 13 and Road 85 Capay, CA 95607
RSVP for Lunch (or use QR Code): https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=37180
GPS: 38.795851, -122.045259
8:45 a.m. Registration, light refreshments
9:00 a.m....
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
UC Cooperative Extension will be hosting two field days this month that may be of interest to rotational crop growers who work with small grains. Full agendas are pending, but mark your calendars in the meantime.
1) Thursday, April 21st: Controlling Italian ryegrass in Small Grains: Join us for a series of short presentations on different methods of control for Italian ryegrass. Speakers will include industry representatives and UC researchers. Participants will also have opportunity to observe this year's herbicide trial on-site, which will exhibit the efficacy of several available chemical controls and several different tank mixtures. Discussions will also cover alternative methods for control and...
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
- Editor: Brad Hanson
- Editor: Mark Lundy
Summary Note
Mechanical cultivation is a useful tool in controlling herbicide-resistant Italian ryegrass individuals in a rainfed wheat system but is only about half as effective as Axial in reducing overall pressure from Italian ryegrass (expressed as a percentage of total groundcover). Growers should consider multiple approaches (chemical and mechanical) and integrate IPM strategies to reduce the spread of resistance among Italian ryegrass individuals.
Background
Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) has been shown to be a persistent weed for growers in rainfed winter grass systems. It is particularly problematic due to its...
- Author: Konrad Mathesius
- Author: Lynn Sosnoskie
If growers sprayed for Italian ryegrass earlier this year, it might still be worth keeping an eye out for it in fields and field margins.
Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is an annual grass that can sometimes behave as a biennial or short-lived perennial in California. The species is an upright grass (to about 3 feet in height) that germinates in the late fall and grows vigorously through the winter and early spring. The species can be identified by its dark green, glossy and hairless leaves that are rolled in the bud. Auricles are well-developed and the ligules are long and membranous. Once flowering occurs, ryegrass is easily distinguishable by alternating spikelets that run along the length of the main...
