Weed species present in cereal crops in western New South Wales

A field survey of 192 cereal crops in western New South Wales collected data on the weed species present and their levels of infestation. Fourteen of the 192 paddocks had no weeds present, while 30 had only one species recorded. Two weed species were recorded in 52 paddocks, three in 35, four in 28, five in 20 and six in ten paddocks while three of the paddocks contained seven weed species. The species most commonly found were annual ryegrass and wild oats, in 66% and 63% of paddocks respectively. No other species of grass weed were present in more than 20% of paddocks. The most common broadleaf weed species was milk thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) which was present in 23% of the surveyed paddocks, capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), wireweed (Polygonum aviculare) and Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum) were the only other species found in more than ten percent of the paddocks.