Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada Alberta Weed Survey: 2009-2010 Irrigated and Dryland Fields Julia Leeson & Chris Neeser
Content Overall weed abundance Trends Distribution maps Results from weed management questionnaire
Background 1 st Weed Survey 1930-1931 Series of partial surveys 60 s and 70 s Intensive survey Fort Vermillion in 1985 (model for future surveys) 1 st Province-wide survey 1997 (684 fields) 2001 survey 1153 fields surveyed
What we did in 2009 Irrigated Fields (12 districts) Surveyed 571 fields out 600 target Distributed 600 questionnaires, 239 were returned (38%)
What we did in 2010 Surveyed 959 dryland fields (target 1200) Covering 88 ecodistricts Mailed out 950 questionnaires, of which 235 were returned (25%)
Weed Survey Protocol 5 15 20 paces between samples 100 paces 1 10 20 100 paces Field corner or other convenient starting point
Data Analysis Relative Abundance = Relative Frequency + Relative Uniformity + Relative Density Relative Frequency = Count by weedspecies Total weedcount Relative Uniformity = Count of quadrats with a given weedspecies Totalnumber of quadrats Relative Density = Count of a given weedspecies Total weedcount
Irrigation Districts Calgary Brooks Irrigation District: Western Eastern Bow River Lethbridge Northern St. Mary River Taber Raymond Magrath United Mountain View Leavitt Aetna Ross Creek Lethbridge Glenwood Medicine Hat
Top 20 Species in Irrigated Broad-leaved crops (beans, potatoes, sugar beets, canola)
Top 20 Species in Irrigated Annual Cereal Crops (includes corn)
Top 20 Species in Irrigated Perennial Crops (alfalfa, grass hay)
Total Weed Density by Crop
Top 20 Species in All Dryland Crops (2010)
Top 20 Species in Dryland Cereal Crops (2010)
Top 20 Species in Dryland Peas and Canola (2010)
Top 20 Species in Perennial Crops (2010)
Since the 70 s
Since the 70 s
Since the 70 s
Since the 70 s
Maps
Wild Buckwheat 2001 2010 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
Wild Oat 2001 2010 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
Dandelion 2001 2010 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
Canada Thistle 2001 2010 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
Cleavers 2001 2010 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
Annual Sow Thistle 2001 2010 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
Narrow-leaved Hawk s-beard 2001 2010 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
Kochia 2001 2010 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
Canada Fleabane (Conyza canadensis) 2001 Legend (Relative Abundance) Not included absent 0.1 to 1 1.1 to 4 4.1 to 10 > 10
The Questionnaire 33 questions specific to the surveyed field weed management insect and disease management tillage, seeding, soil fertility, yield and rotations 18 questions about the farm operation Overall weed management herbicide resistance Sprayer calibration
Herbicide Use: % untreated
Herbicide Use: Barley * includes all Monsanto glyphosate products
Herbicide Use: Wheat
Herbicide Use: Canola
Herbicide Groups: 2010 Barley (56 fields)
Herbicide Groups: 2010 Wheat (92 fields)
Herbicide Groups: 2010 Canola(61 fields)
Crop Rotations (2007-2010)
Herbicide Resistance 17 % of respondents suspected herbicide resistance. Suspected species Nb of fields Herbicide Groups Wild Oats 34 1, 2, Kochia 12 2, 4 Wild buckwheat 4 2 Chickweed 2 2, 4 Cleavers 1 2
Herbicide Resistance 5 % of respondents had confirmed herbicide resistance. Confirmed species Nb of fields Herbicide Groups Wild Oats 11 1, 2, Kochia 4 2 Chickweed 2 2 Hemp-nettle 1 2
Key Conclusions Generally good weed control in high value cash crops (potatoes, beans, sugar beets, canola). Weed control is better than in the 70 s and 80 s Annual sow thistle, narrow-leaved hawk sbeard, and Canada fleabane continue to spread Herbicide resistance is a significant problem in spite of herbicide rotations
Acknowledgements Julia Leeson and students at AAFC in Saskatoon Nicole Kimmel and Cindy Samborsky from the Pest Surveillance Branch Maureen Vadnais from Ag Service Board Agricultural fieldmen Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (BRRG, CARA & SARA) Number of Crop Consultants Participating Farmers
Julia Leeson 306-956-7270 julia.leeson@agr.gc.ca Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada Chris Neeser 403 362-1331 chris.neeser@gov.ab.ca
Herbicide Timing
Number of Herbicide Applications
Ratings of Weed Management Practices
Sources of Weed Management Advice
Objectives To quantify weed populations in terms of their diversity and density of the principal annual crops grown in Alberta, either with or without irrigation. To document the agronomic and weed control practices used on surveyed fields To examine correlations between weed management practices and weed populations.