Using Post-Emergence Herbicides in Combination with the Sowing Date to Suppress Sinapis arvensis and Silybum marianum in Durum Wheat

Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) and milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) are two competitive broad-leaved weeds commonly found in cereals in Europe, while several weed species have developed resistance to the main herbicides that are applied on these crops. Thus, the implementation of integrated weed management (IWM) programs is of great importance. Field experiments were conducted based on a split-plot design with two factors (sowing date and herbicides). Our results showed that the density of wild mustard and milk thistle was higher in the early sowing compared to the late sowing, while the total weed density was up to 75% higher in early sowing. Moreover, the herbicides florasulam + 2.4-D and bromoxynil + 2.4-D exhibited high efficacy (>98%) against milk thistle and wild mustard, while tribenuron-methyl and florasulam + clopyralid provided greater efficacy in the late sowing compared to the early sowing. Among the four herbicides, the lowest dry biomass and grain yield of wheat were observed in tribenuron-methyl and florasulam + clopyralid, while in the weed-infested treatment, the highest values of both parameters were recorded in late sowing. Finally, the results showed that the sowing date is a cultural weed control method that should be implemented in IWM programs, since it can affect both weed density and herbicide efficacy.

Automated summary

The study found that wild mustard and milk thistle had higher densities in early sowing, with total weed density also being higher, while certain herbicides were more effective in late sowing, resulting in less impact on weeds and crops. Thus, the sowing date plays a crucial role in integrated weed management programs.