Tankmixes Help Guard Against Weed Resistance and Weed Shifts
Weed resistance and weed shifts are always issues cereals growers need to be aware of, especially with the increasing shift to conservation tillage and the popular use of glyphosate. Direct seeding of cereals has essentially eliminated most tillage passes. Increasing numbers of glyphosate-tolerant crops, such as canola, also contribute to the amount of glyphosate applied per acre.
Weed shifts may be more of a concern for growers as an indication of herbicides not controlling various weed species as effectively as previously experienced, and is the first red flag when watching for potential resistance development. Implementing practices such as rotating away from glyphosate, using herbicides with different modes of action and adding tankmix partners to glyphosate applications are essential components of a good resistance management strategy and a way to preserve the value of glyphosate.
However, many of these practices have additional benefits to the farming system. Tankmixing, for instance, is a good way to guard against weed shifts, which concern many researchers such as Eric Eriksmoen, a North Dakota State University research agronomist. In this article, Eriksmoen claims the simplest remedy for weed shifts is to tankmix an herbicide with glyphosate that will pick up the weeds glyphosate misses. By controlling more weeds in the field, it is a less likely they will return the following year. For more information on weed management in cereal crops, visit one of these university Web sites: