With the growing trend for increased sowing of Hamelin malt barley in Western Australia, growers can be confident that Hamelin is not sensitive to metribuzin herbicide under normal environmental conditions.

Department of Agriculture and Food Research Officer Dr Harmohinder Dhammu has reported that research from small plot trials at two wheatbelt locations from 2002 to 2004, has conclusively shown that trial rates of 112g a.i./ha of metribuzin, applied before sowing with trifluralin at 400 g a.i./ha, did not affect the grain yield of Hamelin or any of the other commonly grown malt barley varieties Stirling, Gairdner or Baudin.

“The only environmental factors that would make Hamelin, as well any of the other varieties, sensitive to metribuzin is where the chemical is concentrated into the seed slot by furrow filling due to heavy rainfall before crop emergence or the paddock is under waterlogged conditions,” Dr Dhammu said.

Further information is available by checking the Department of Agriculture and Food’s 2006/07 Cereal Spraying Chart (Bulletin 4675) or the Crop Variety Sowing Guide, both accessible from the Department’s district offices or online at www.agric.wa.gov.au.