Steps to Stem the Italian Ryegrass Population Explosion

THE EFFECT OF ITALIAN RYEGRASS

Italian ryegrass has been a key weed to manage in crops and when control efforts fail, Italian ryegrass populations severely reduce yields through competition and lodging of the crop. ALS herbicides are now largely ineffective in crops, which compounds the problem.

More recently, Italian ryegrass has encroached into fields from roadsides and field borders and when left unmanaged in the winter fallow period, spring burndown programs are complicated due to the density of the Italian ryegrass population and crown area, which make herbicide coverage nearly impossible.

In addition to the loss of glyphosate as an effective spring burndown herbicide, several populations in the southeast have been confirmed for paraquat resistance. Clethodim is another active ingredient used for postemergence control of Italian ryegrass. However, it also has populations in areas that are no longer susceptible. This unfortunately helps prove that we are steadily using up our options for Italian ryegrass management for burndown and in-crop control.

TIMING – THE KEY TO MANAGING ITALIAN RYEGRASS

Key weed science principles and management of other herbicide resistant weeds has shown us that the best time to control troublesome weeds is before they ever appear - with proper use of residual herbicides.
“To succeed in a fall herbicide application, it’s a combination of things that have to come together to give growers complete control of the ryegrass,” says Donnie Miller, weed scientist with the Louisiana State University AgCenter.

The key criteria to effectively manage Italian ryegrass, according to Miller, includes three aspects:

1. Once fields start receiving fall rains and soil temperatures cool to about 65 F, Italian ryegrass starts to germinate. Residual herbicides need to be applied before the ryegrass germinates or tank mixed with an effective Italian ryegrass postemergence product such as paraquat to control emerged ryegrass.
2. Soil residual herbicides must be activated by timely rainfall after application.
3. Cover crops can be grown in problem fields to compete with subsequent populations of Italian ryegrass and aid in management while holding topsoil in place during winter rains.

One herbicide solution that has proven to control glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass when applied prior to weed germination is Anthem® Flex herbicide from FMC. Anthem Flex herbicide can provide excellent preemergent residual control of Italian ryegrass, as well as annual bluegrass and other problem winter annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. It contains two different modes of action, with the Group15 mode of action being well known for its strong, long-lasting residual performance. Managing Italian ryegrass in the fall simplifies burndown and management in the spring leading to a cleaner start in the new crop.

Typically, optimal performance has been observed when fall rainfall has settled the beds and Anthem Flex herbicide was applied with paraquat in mid-November. This has shown to control existing weeds and begin the soil residual clock under cooler soil temperatures and more frequent rainfall events that keep the residual herbicide available and active in the soil profile.

“We are in a situation where we’re slowly losing all our postemergence options, including the ALS options for controlling Italian ryegrass," Miller states. “Our producers and research found that the most effective way we can manage Italian ryegrass is through herbicide applications in the fall.”

Talk to your Southern States Agronomy Specialist about adding Anthem Flex herbicide as part of a season-long weed management strategy.

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