IN BRIEF

28 November 1997

IN BRIEF

&#8226 CUTTING the cost of weed control in spring linseed may be easier than thought, says Peter Lutman of IACR Rothamsted. At an average yield of 1.47t/ha (12cwt/acre), with seed worth £120/t, up to 17 fathen plants/sq m can be left untreated without hitting profits, recent studies show. Seven times as many chickweed plants can be left before treatment becomes worthwhile. Aggressive weeds like wild oats or knotgrass need removing when weed numbers exceed 12 and 7/sq m, respectively.