ANNUAL RYEGRASS

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is one of the most serious and costly weeds of annual winter cropping systems in southern Australia. Annual ryegrass is highly competitive and can compete with a crop as early as the two-leaf crop stage. It is a winter to spring growing weed that can emerge from late autumn through to early spring. The number of emergence flushes and the density of plants that emerge are related to initial seedbank levels and the frequency and amount of rainfall.

The presence of ryegrass reduced wheat dry matter production and grain yields by decreasing fertile tiller and fertile spikelet production. Ryegrass was more competitive in the later sown crops and its effect on wheat grain yield was directly proportional to the square root of its density

Widely naturalised in eastern Australia and also present in southern Australia. It is most common and widespread in eastern Queensland and the coastal and sub-coastal districts of central and northern New South Wales (particularly in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales). Also occasionally naturalised in some parts of Victoria. Naturalised in many other parts of the world, including China and Hawaii.

Spray FireHawk Bioherbicide Concentrate: 50 mL/L of water. Respray if required