A survey of the incidence of the Bromus species as weeds of winter cereals in England, Wales and parts of Scotland

In June 1989, a survey was made of 733 fields of winter cereals, 627 in England and Wales and 106 in Fife and the Lothian regions of Scotland. The occurrence of Bromus species was noted in three areas of each field: the uncropped field margin, the cropped headland and the field centre. Three arbitrarily defined infestation levels were recorded: severe,light and intermediate. The most common species recorded was Bromus sterilis L., which accounted for almost 87% of all sightings. Most of the other occurrences were almost equally distributed between B. hordeaceus L., and B. commutatus Schrad. Two other species were found, on one field each: B. diandrus Roth and B. x pseudothominii Hard. Surveyors were briefed to recognize B. secalinus L, but none was reported. The brome grasses were widespread throughout the surveyed regions. They were most common in the Lothians (81% of surveyed fields) and in the South East (60%) and the South West (52%) of England and least common in the Eng lish West Midlands, Fife and Wales (17%, 15% and 4% of surveyed fields). Distribution was biased towards the uncropped margins and field headlands. In England and Wales, there were 146 fields where Bromus species occurred in the field margins only, 179 in margins and headlands only and 63 with infestations in all three areas. In contrast, there were only 26 fields where they were restricted to the cropped areas. A similar pattern occurred in Scotland. The correlations between incidence of the Bromus species and management practices were much weaker than had been anticipated. The standard advice for control is to plough rather than use non-inversion tillage systems, to delay sowing and to avoid long runs of winter cereals. The conclusion of this survey is that, although these practices may be reducing or preventing increase of these weeds, they are not effective at eliminating infestations.