New oil boosts blackgrass kill
4 July 2001
New oil boosts blackgrass kill
By Gilly Johnson
DRILL, a newly-launched methylated seed oil adjuvant improves control of blackgrass, claims manufacturer Loveland Industries.
Specially developed for use with cereal graminicides, Drill boosts the blackgrass kill when added to Hawk (clodinafop-propargyl + trifluralin).
Loveland claims it is better than esterified rape oil Phase II, which is recommended on the Hawk label, or standard mineral oil adjuvants.
The two adjuvants were trialled in a replicated trial at the Scott Abbot Arable Crop Station near Peterborough, carrying a weed burden of 921 blackgrass/m2.
Hawk treatment with Drill left just three blackgrass/m2 compared to seven after the Hawk/Phase II combination.
On an IPU-resistant blackgrass site last year, Drill lifted Hawks weed control to 100%, as compared with 83% for a Hawk/mineral oil treatment.
The improved efficacy of Drill is down to a new, secret “activated” formulation which improves spread, says the company.
Drill has been authorised by the PSD and will be on sale this autumn for use with any pesticide which requires an oil based adjuvant.
Price is still awaited but expect to pay a slight premium over standard methylated seed oils.
Loveland is confident Drill will be recommended by the major herbicide manufacturers – discussions on label inclusion are underway of Drill.