[UQ News Online 20 Dec 2011] -- Associate Professor Steven Walker is targeting the north-east’s most destructive cropping weeds. Dr Steven Walker, a weed specialist from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at The University of Queensland, has attracted $2.25 million funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation for a ground-breaking five-year research program looking at herbicide-resistant weeds. Dr Walker and 12 colleagues from the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and NSW Department of Primary Industries are mounting a multifaceted campaign targeting the north-east's most destructive cropping weeds. “As well as developing a better understanding of the biology and ecology of herbicide resistant weeds, we'll be conducting surveys across northern NSW and Queensland to compile a precise snapshot of the main offenders,” Dr Walker said. “One of the big challenges of weed control is that different weeds emerge as soon as farming practices change – and cropping has witnessed tremendous change during the past decade.” [Photo caption: Associate Professor Steven Walker is targeting the north-east’s most destructive cropping weeds.]

Although about 100 cropping weeds regularly show up in surveys, the top six usually account for the majority of serious problems facing growers in the northern regions, he said.

“Weed management is a vital issue in Australian grain production.”

“When cropping weeds take root in fallow ground, they rob the soil of both nutrients and water, damaging the soil profile of the next season's crop,” Dr Walker said.

“Once you start to compromise the soil profile, you begin to see a drop-off in yield or possibly even crop failure, which can be devastating for both growers and the economy.”

Dr Walker leads QAAFI's research in weed ecology, herbicide resistance and integrated weed management for the grain and cotton farming systems of the sub-tropical cropping region of Australia.

QAAFI director Professor Robert Henry said the five-year weed program was an excellent example of how senior QAAFI researchers would continue to provide leadership in agricultural science.

For more information visit: qaafi.uq.edu.au/s…

QAAFI

Launched on 21 October 2010, the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is a scientific research institute of The University of Queensland (UQ), which was formed through an alliance between UQ and the Queensland Government's Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). QAAFI draws together 100 research teams specialising in plant, animal and food sciences from 11 UQ and DEEDI sites across Queensland. For more information visit qaafi.uq.edu.au