GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HERBICIDE-RESISTANT BLACK-GRASS (ALOPECURUS-MYOSUROIDES HUDS)

Herbicide resistance in black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) is a cont inuing problem in England and has also evolved in some other European countries. The UK Weed Resistance Action Group has devised guidelines for the prevention and control of herbicide-resistant black-grass base d on recent research studies, which are summarized. The guidelines def ine three situations based on past herbicide performance and suggest a strategy for herbicide choice. In all situations the need to integrat e cultural control measures with herbicides applied for their maximum efficacy is stressed. Beneficial cultural control measures include plo ughing, the use of spring-sown crops in the rotation and delayed autum n sowing.