Closed ATM View - PROC-9176912
Informed weed management strategies for emerging weeds based on biological and ecological knowledge of button grass, Ind
Linda McDougall
: 0472 832 502
:
Linda McDougall
:
0472 832 502
Weeds are a major cost to Australian grain growers due to the direct cost of weed control, the impact of weeds on crop yield loss due to competition and price downgrades due to contamination. Llewellyn et al. 2016 estimated a cost to grain growers of $3.3 billion per annum. Over time, the exact weed pressures experienced by growers often change due to the adaptive nature and spread of weeds. It is necessary to identify where specific weed species are emerging in prevalence, particularly when control options are lacking or lose effectiveness. Button grass (Dactyloctenium radulans), Indian hedge mustard (Sisymbrium orientale), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), fleabane species (Conyza sumatrensis, Conyza bonariensis) and wireweed (Polygonum aviculare), are problematic weeds (Table 1.) that lack up-to-date knowledge on integrated weed management strategies. Some of these weeds are established in some areas, while are still emerging in others. Additionally, the development of herbicide resistance in these weed species is limiting the available options for chemical control.
For integrated weed management strategies to be effective they need to account for individual weed species biology and ecology. The factors relating to biology and ecology that need to be understood about a weed species to enable design of optimum management strategies can include the weed seedbank longevity, emergence patterns and phenology. By understanding how weeds grow and respond to the environment, farming systems and practices, management strategies can be designed which target the most vulnerable or weakest part of the weed’s own growth strategy. Through recent investments such as UA00156 and US00084, we have generated considerable new knowledge in the biology and ecology of a range of emerging weeds in all GRDC regions. In UA00156, information was collected on traits including seed dormancy and germination ecology, seedbank persistence and crop competition for weeds including button grass, Indian hedge mustard, prickly lettuce and wireweed. This biological and ecological knowledge needs to be incorporated into management strategies. These four weeds (button grass, Indian hedge mustard, prickly lettuce and wireweed) were used alongside a selection of other emerging and established weeds to develop and validate a Weed Investment Prioritisation tool, which subsequently identified these weeds as priority weeds (DJP2007-002RTX). Whilst immediate short term control options exist for these weeds, comprehensive management strategies are lacking. Some gaps in the biological and ecological knowledge remains for several weeds and needs to be obtained.
Outcome
By May 2027, annual chemical weed control costs are reduced by 5% and crop production is increased through growers making more informed decisions to manage emerging weed species by integrating ecological and biological knowledge into effective integrated weed management strategies.
Outputs
Output 1 - By May 2027, provide to industry updated knowledge of the biology and ecology of button grass, prickly lettuce and tall fleabane that can be used in the development of management strategies as part of Output 2.
Details:
- Knowledge of the ecology and biology of each weed is to be obtained through a combination of laboratory, pot and field experiments. This may include the impact of factors such as light, temperature, osmotic and salt stress, and burial depth on the germination of each weed species, as well as knowledge of seed dormancy, seedbank persistence and the impact of crop competition on weed growth and development.
- A minimum of five distinct populations are to be assessed for each weed species, with populations to be collected from the Northern Region. For each weed species, populations should be collected from a range of locations to target greater variation among the populations.
- Experiments to provide further information on the biology and ecology of button grass, Indian hedge mustard, prickly lettuce, fleabane or wireweed across each region are to be discussed with the GRDC Investment Manager with gaps in knowledge clearly identified.
Output 2 - By May 2027, provide to industry practical and regionally relevant effective weed management strategies to manage key emerging grain cropping weeds.
Details:
- The target weeds have been chosen based on their impact, existing ecological knowledge, feasibility of control and weed risk, and are prickly lettuce, Indian hedge mustard, wireweed, button grass and fleabane.
- Management strategies are to be developed through an existing: 1) understanding of weed ecology (including UA00156, US00084 and obtained through Output 1); 2) herbicide resistance evolutionary dynamics; 3) in the context of the associated farming systems and; 4) in context of a range of climatic conditions to cover variations across seasons.
- Management strategies are to be developed with consideration of true Integrated Weed Management and existing knowledge of chemical and non-chemicals tactics.
- Management strategies to be field tested over a maximum of three seasons and include the impact of seasonal variation in climatic conditions.
- A minimum of two field trial site should be established for each weed and for each region (Northern, Western or Southern) where the weed is known to be problematic. This may include trials in the northern region for button grass, prickly lettuce, wireweed and fleabane(tall and flaxleaf fleabane); the southern region for Indian hedge mustard, prickly lettuce, flaxleaf fleabane and wireweed; and the western region for button grass, Indian hedge mustard, prickly lettuce, flaxleaf fleabane and wireweed.
- Seed collection should occur in each region (Northern, Western and Southern) where the weed is known to be problematic, and should occur from multiple locations in each region. Field testing of management strategies should incorporate populations from each region where seed collection has occurred.
- Herbicide treatment lists to be developed in coordination with GRDC and limited to registered products. Inclusion of non-registered products are to be approved by GRDC.
Output 3 - By May 2024, and annually thereafter, develop and deliver a communications package stemming from the project research to inform industry of effective weed management strategies to manage key emerging weeds.
Details:
- The communications delivery package should be preceded by a communications plan which articulates actual deliverables such as events and products, timelines and local target audiences. This plan should be developed in consultation with GRDC Communications and Digital Publications teams and be reviewed throughout the investment.
- The communications package should be delivered throughout the duration of the investment as appropriate.
- The communications package should include initial communications around the selection of the weeds in this investment targeted towards growers and their advisers and be developed in coordination with the GRDC Investment Manager. It should also review the most effective options for delivering the research outcomes. If the communications plan is to include workshops, the number of workshops should allow for sufficient regional coverage with a minimum of three workshops per year per region.
- The communications package should include field days to demonstrate the impact of the management strategies.
- The findings gained from this investment on each weed will be summarised into a legacy publication for public release and dissemination to the grains industry. Consultation with GRDC on publication and design is required.
- Communications should occur through multiple delivery systems (digital, written, audio, social media).
- Package to include established communication platforms such as WeedSmart and GRDC Communications and other dedicated products and activities.
Evaluation Criteria
In the table below are the Evaluation Criteria that the Tender Evaluation Team will use to assess the value for money of all Tenders.
Minimum Form and Content Requirements
The following are the mandatory content and format requirements that the Tenderer must complete and provide to participate in this procurement process:
- Submit Tenders using the Grains Investment Portal.
- Write Tenders in English and express any measurements in Australian legal units of measurement.
- Budget details must be submitted on the ‘GRDC Budget Template’ provided in the Grains Investment Portal.
The following are mandatory conditions with which a Tenderer must comply to participate in this procurement process:
- The Tenderer must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners except where the Tender is submitted by a consortium and the Tender specifies that each member of the proposed consortium will be party to the contract.
- The Tenderer and any proposed subcontractor must be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and any other applicable labour laws and standards in the jurisdiction in which they operate.
- The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not have a judicial decision against it (not including decisions under appeal) relating to employee entitlements and who have not paid the claim.
- The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not be named on the Consolidated List, being the list of persons and entities who are subject to targeted financial sanctions or travel bans under Australian sanction laws, as maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- In accordance with the Black Economy Procurement Connected Policy, a Tenderer must include a satisfactory and valid Statement of Tax Records (STR). If the total value of all work under any proposed subcontract is expected to be equal to or above $4 million (inclusive of GST), also include a separate satisfactory and valid STR of that proposed subcontractor.
It is anticipated that any resultant contract in relation to this procurement will commence with a proposed term of 3 years and 9 months.
GRDC will contract under the terms of the GRDC Standard Multi-Party Research Contract.
The schedule(s) attached to the contract will detail the project details: the outcomes, outputs, milestones, budget, participating personnel and required intellectual property.
The template Contract containing the proposed terms and conditions is available from the GRDC website at https://grdc.com.au/research/partnering-in-rde-investment/contract-templates
Submit Tenders using the Grains Investment Portal.
Linda McDougall
: 0472 832 502
:
Linda McDougall
:
0472 832 502