Vulpia hair grass (Vulpia spp.) can reduce yields of crops through competition and dressing losses, and can also contaminate seed lines, preventing export to some overseas markets.
Key points
- Vulpia hair grass, Vulpia spp., is the most common weed seed species in perennial ryegrass seed lots.
- In 2019, it was detected in 42% of all seed lots tested for seed certification in New Zealand.
- The recent increase in the incidence of vulpia hair grass is likely associated with a greater adoption of minimum and no-tillage establishment systems.
- Seedling establishment is severely reduced when seed is buried at a depth of 10 mm or deeper.
- Pre-emergence herbicides containing flufenacet control vulpia in cereals, while ethofumesate at high rates results in good, but not complete, control of vulpia in ryegrass.