Dr Steven Walker, a weed specialist from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at 宅男导航, 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鈥檚 most destructive cropping weeds.
鈥淎s well as developing a better understanding of the biology and ecology of herbicide resistant weeds, we鈥檒l be conducting surveys across northern NSW and Queensland to compile a precise snapshot of the main offenders,鈥� Dr Walker said.
鈥淥ne of the big challenges of weed control is that different weeds emerge as soon as farming practices change 鈥� and cropping has witnessed tremendous change during the past decade.鈥�
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.
鈥淲eed management is a vital issue in Australian grain production.鈥�
鈥淲hen cropping weeds take root in fallow ground, they rob the soil of both nutrients and water, damaging the soil profile of the next season鈥檚 crop,鈥� Dr Walker said.
鈥淥nce 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.鈥�
Dr Walker leads QAAFI鈥檚 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: www.qaafi.uq.edu.au/steven-walker
Media: Associate Professor Steven Walker, Principal Research Fellow Qld Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation Tel: (07) 4639 8838, Email: s.walker11@uq.edu.au or Ron Hohenhaus 鈥� QAAFI Communications, Qld Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation Tel: (07) 3346 0553, Mob: 0417 425 510, Email: r.hohen@uq.edu.au, website: www.qaafi.uq.edu.au
QAAFI
Launched on 21 October 2010, the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is a scientific research institute of 宅男导航 (宅男导航), which was formed through an alliance between 宅男导航 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 宅男导航 and DEEDI sites across Queensland. For more information visit www.qaafi.uq.edu.au
