Practical Methods and Technical Key Points for Weed Control in Wheat Fields

Wheat is a staple food in northern China and, apart from rice, the other major grain crop grown in the country. Wheat is highly resilient, but reasonable field management is still needed to achieve high yields, and weed control management within field management is a very important step. So how should weeds be controlled in wheat fields? Let us take a look together below.

1. Timing of Weed Control

Throughout the growth of wheat, weed control usually needs to be carried out multiple times, and only when it is done at the right time can the weeds in the field be eliminated as thoroughly as possible. Generally, it is best to carry out weed control in November each year and around February to March each year. Other weed control times are mainly determined by the growth conditions of the weeds in the wheat field, so as to reduce nutrient loss and thereby promote the growth of the wheat.

2. Weed Control Methods

There are generally three weed control methods: the first is hoeing for weed control, the second is manual weeding by pulling, and the third is weed control through pesticides. Hoeing for weed control is generally used in the early stage of wheat seedling growth, as this can enhance soil permeability, promote nutrient absorption and reduce nutrient consumption. Manual weeding by pulling is generally a method used in the later stage of wheat growth, because at this time the wheat is basically approaching maturity, and if other methods are used for weed control, they will affect the yield and quality of the wheat, so choosing manual weeding by pulling is the most correct weed control method. In the middle stage of wheat growth, we can use pesticides for weed control, which can eliminate the weeds in the field to a great extent, allow the nutrients in the field to be fully absorbed and used by the wheat seedlings, and thereby increase the yield of wheat without harming the quality of the wheat.

3. Key Points of Weed Control

For manual weeding by pulling, it is best to choose a rainy day, as the weeds in the field are then easy to pull out, while for hoeing for weed control, it is best to choose noon on a sunny day, when the sun is relatively strong, so that the removed weeds will be dried out by the sun and new weeds are unlikely to grow again. For pesticide-based weed control, it is best to carry out weed control in the morning or at noon on a cloudy day, and when choosing pesticides, suitable agents should be selected.

4. Precautions

The precautions for weed control in wheat fields mainly concern pesticide-based weed control, because if pesticides are not used properly, it will result in huge losses. First, when choosing pesticides, we should select pesticides specifically intended for weed control in wheat fields; second, the proportions of the pesticides should be reasonably mixed; then, when carrying out weed control, a windless day or a day with a slight breeze should be chosen, so as to avoid the pesticides being blown onto the wheat by the wind and causing the wheat to wither and die. At the same time, weed control must not be carried out before rain, as the efficacy of the pesticide will be greatly reduced. Finally, weed control must not be carried out on sunny days with high temperatures, as this will cause pesticide damage.