Silver grass

Vulpia bromoides; Vulpia myuros

Even though silver grass is less competitive than other major grass weeds, dense populations can severely limit crop yield. Another weed that has become more of a problem since the adoption of minimum tillage practices, it is most likely to emerge in high numbers in crops sown early by direct drilling.

Description

Slender annual grass with fine, hairless leaves. Silver grass seedlings look similar to annual ryegrass seedlings, but their leaves are not as wide and are not shiny underneath.

Control

Controlling silver grass is relatively straightforward. It is susceptible to a range of herbicides, including Sakura. In situations where overall weed pressure is high, more competitive weed species tend to overwhelm silver grass and reduce its impact.

Now that silver grass is becoming more common, taking an integrated weed management approach to controlling it will help ensure that the current range of control options remains effective.

Related Weeds

Annual ryegrass

Lolium rigidum

Annual ryegrass (Wimmera ryegrass) is arguably the most important grass weed competing with winter cereal crops in Australia. The rapid spread of herbicide-resistant populations in recent years has even threatened the viability of cropping in some areas.

Annual phalaris

Phalaris paradoxa

Annual phalaris is an aggressive annual grass weed that is generally a more serious problem in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland than in other cropping areas. It prefers alluvial, sandy-clay or clay texture soils with high soil moisture.

Brome grass

Bromus diandrus

Brome grass and wild oats have been rated the two most competitive grass weeds in wheat. Western Australian research has shown that brome grass at a density of 100 plants/m2 can reduce wheat yields by 30%.

Barley grass

Hordeum leporinum

Although not a major winter cropping weed in all areas, barley grass is prevalent in some areas with higher winter rainfall. A combination of its potential for rapid germination and developed resistance to Group A and B herbicides can make barley grass difficult to control.