AN OPTIMAL-CONTROL MODEL FOR INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT UNDER HERBICIDE RESISTANCE

The presence of weeds which have developed resistance to chemical herbicides is a problem of rapidly growing importance in Australian agriculture. We present an optimal control model of herbicide resistance development in ryegrass, the weed for which resistance is most commonly reported. The model is used to select the optimal combination of chemical and non chemical control measures taking account of the trade off between short term profits and the Long term level of herbicide resistance. Results indicate that given the threat of resistance there are benefits from integrating a combination of chemical and non-chemical control measures. The optimal strategy is found to include a declining herbicide dosage as resistance develops, with compensatory increases in the level of non-chemical control.