Expert Q&A: Controlling Broadleaved Weeds in Wheat and Barley Crops
06 March 2025, UK: Broadleaved weeds are persistent, damaging to crop yields, and they make harvesting difficult. So how can growers get a handle on them? We asked our Field Technical Manager, Georgie Young, about the common broadleaved weeds that impact on cereal crops and the best strategies for control.
Q: What are the most problematic broadleaved weeds affecting cereals crops in the UK?
Several broadleaf weeds have become an increasing issue in recent years due to the development of resistance to common chemistry. For example, the Common Poppy, Chickweed and Mayweed have all recorded resistance to ALS chemistry. Groundsel has become more prevalent in recent years perhaps owing to its ability to germinate throughout the year and overwinter. And then there are cleavers, which appear everywhere. They aren’t difficult to control at the right timing but they can choke cereal crops because they grow through and over the top of the canopy. This causes lodging and makes harvesting difficult.
Q: What are the common pitfalls when growers are trying to control these kinds of weeds?
One of the most common pitfalls is the repeated use of the same modes of action of chemistry, and forgetting to return to the field to monitor levels of control. Grass weeds are often a greater focus for resistance testing with broadleaf weeds sometimes being overlooked.
Q: Are there any particular products that growers should be looking to for control?
That very much depends on the weed spectrum that you’ve got. Finding the right active ingredient for the right weed spectrum can be a bit of a minefield as the range of broadleaved weeds is huge. Many herbicides used for grass weed control have activity on some broadleaf weeds too so it’s important to understand the full range of weeds that are present so you can use the most appropriate herbicide. To limit the development of resistance it’s always advisable to alternate chemistries in mixes and sequences.
Q: What are the cultural best practices for controlling broadleaved weeds?
Cultural controls reduce pressure and reliance on herbicide applications so they’re an important part of any control strategy. Crop rotations including spring and autumn sown crops can prevent a dominant broadleaved weed species from emerging. When establishing spring crops, growers should focus on minimal soil disturbance to reduce weed populations, and with autumn-sown crops, minimum tillage and direct drilling should reduce numbers. Then there’s using a competitive crop to control weeds. Many broadleaved weeds are susceptible to competition, particularly in those early growth stages. The combination of the right cultural controls and the effective use of chemistry will ultimately prevent seed return and so help growers get weed populations under control.
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