Tackling resistant rye-grass – Tillage & Soils

“Whilst a core principle of agroecology is minimising soil disturbance, controlling a challenging weed burden within a min-till system can be difficult. In this situation, where we have resistant rye-grass, we have had to bring back the plough – but what is important here is that plough depth is kept to minimum. Sometimes it is necessary to re-set and start again,” Mr Brown says.

Before the plough is hitched up, holes are dug to identify issues before ploughing to the appropriate depth.

“After ploughing, any emerging ryegrass has been sprayed off with glyphosate, and cover crops established to help stabilise the sandy soils. This means cover crops with lots of fine hairs that hold the sand together – such as vetch, linseed and oats. Adding in radish and cereals that have bigger roots helps drainage.

“Winter cereals are not grown in fields with bad ryegrass. We are trialling a mix of spring beans and spring oats which we have found to be a competitive spring break crop.”

“Integrating livestock-where possible – is a cornerstone of agroecology, so sheep are brought in to graze off cover crops. “Our aim is to change the soil’s biological balance, so we are constantly measuring this alongside the different approaches for ryegrass control.”

“A split field trial has been set up to evaluate how the farm can cope without using glyphosate. It allows other options for control to be evaluated,” says Mr Brown.

“Whilst one side has been sprayed off, the other has been lightly cultivated. Currently the cultivated soils look darker and healthier, which we put down to more organic matter being incorporated. But we shall see what plays out in the longer run.”