NGN GA Demonstration of effective control of volunteer Clearfield canola in lentil crops

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Lentils are a major crop in the southern region and a key contributor to farm profitability. The control of volunteer Clearfield (CL) canola is an increasing problem across the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula. The issue is expanding as growers adopt double-break rotations and predominantly select CL canola varieties due to imidazolinone herbicide residues. Similar to weeds, canola seed can remain viable in the seedbank for a number of years. Current herbicide programs targeting broadleaf weeds are not effectively controlling volunteer CL canola, limiting lentil yield potential, causing issues for harvest weed seed mills, requiring lentil grain to be cleaned and resulting in increased canola disease risks in following crops. This two-year project will establish replicated field trials at two sites, Mid North (heavier soil) and Yorke Peninsula (lighter soil) to demonstrate herbicide strategies (combinations of products and application timings) for the control of volunteer CL canola in lentil.