The dormancy and control of volunteer cereals and bromus species in cereals

Abstract

This report records the findings of six co-ordinated projects on volunteer cereals and species of brome grasses as weeds of cereals. The work was initiated at a time when both were becoming increasingly important problems on UK farms.

There were four principal objectives which are listed below:

1. To evaluate the effects of cultivations, depth of burial, straw disposal method and soil type on the long-term viability of brome grasses and volunteer cereals.

2. To study the genetic variation in behaviour between ecotypes and influence of time of seed shedding on dormancy and pre- and post-harvest conditions on the induction and duration of dormancy in volunteer cereals and barren brome.

3. To conduct a survey of brome grass seed content and species and variety identity of wheat and barley sold in the market-place as grain.

4. To investigate the relationship between standard laboratory dormancy tests and field germination in barley in relation to maturity and harvest.