BSES and SRDC archive
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Publications, annual reports from Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, BSES Limited and Sugar Research and Development Corporation.
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Item Chemical sprays for weed control; a guide to building a suitable power spray : farm bulletin no. 12(BSES, 1952) Vallance, LGWeeds have been the bugbear of the farmer from time immemorial. They have added to his cost of production and limited the growth of his crops in no uncertain manner. It is safe to say that ever since man commenced to till the soil to provide himself with the food required for his existence the major portion of his unceasing toil has been devoted to the eradication of these unwanted pests. In the early days his good friend the horse assisted to lighten his burden. The advent of the internal combustion engine and the development of the fast moving high clearance tractor brought about an immeasurable improvement. In all these practices the methods were fundamentally similar in that the weeds were destroyed by mechanical breaking off, mutilation of essential growing parts or severance of roots from close contact with the soil. Tine and disc implements have been developed which will work efficiently under widely varying soil and crop conditions. Nevertheless there are limits to what a machine can do and certain of these limitations are imposed by the conditions necessary for the most favourable growth of the crop plant itself. An instance that immediately comes to mind is that the crop with which we are concerned - sugar cane-thrives best in moist soils in warm and humid climates. It is under such conditions that weeds make their most vigorous growth, but it is an unfortunate fact that the wetter the soil the less efficiently will soil disturbing implements operate. Above all, the question of cost is of paramount importance, and in an endeavour to reduce the ever mounting cost of production, cane growers have focussed their attention on the most recent developments of chemical weed control which give excellent promise of being efficient, economic and practicable.Item The cane growers' quarterly bulletin : special issue farm bulletin no.13(BSES, 1962) Young, HEA weed can be defined as an unwanted plant, or as a plant growing in the wrong place. Plants which are useful in their right places become weeds if they grow where they are not wanted. Guinea grass for instance is a useful plant in a grazing paddock but a bad weed in a canefield. Some plants are weeds wherever they grow, because they are a nuisance in useful land, or are harmful to the health of man or livestock. Weeds in sugar cane fields cost the grower money. When these pests are controlled better crops are produced which are also less expensive to harvest. Weeds compete with crops for water, sunlight and mineral nutrients. They increase costs of labour and equipment, reduce the quantity and quality of the product, and harbour diseases, insects and other pests. They are amongst the greatest obstacles to mechanizing production completely. Better burns, lower cutting costs and improved surface drainage result from a good weed control programme. At least half the cultivation which is required is on account of weeds. It has been estimated that the economic loss clue to weeds on farms is greater than that caused by insects and diseases combined. A good weed control programme includes the use of good cultivation methods as well as chemicals. The use of chemicals alone cannot be expected to give the best results. Most weeds of cultivated land mature and produce seed before the crop in which they grow is harvested.