Warning given on late-sown cereal sprays
Warning given on late-sown cereal sprays
TAKE every opportunity to spray winter cereals for weeds, even in late drilled crops, advises BASF.
"There will be spraying windows that are not drilling windows," says the firms Andrew Jones who fears later sowings could too easily be neglected.
"Obviously those with untreated early sown fields will be under pressure to get something on. But others with thin late sowings may think they have plenty of time to catch up.
"Our point is that in these crops there is an awful lot of germination waiting to happen. It is probably better to grasp the nettle and get some herbicide on soon, even if it isnt perfect."
The temptation is to wait, but contact-acting products generally require dry foliage and possibly higher water volumes which slow spraying rates, he explains. Delaying also risks having to apply "hotter" mixtures to potentially tender crops later.
"Pendimethalin is a good base treatment for grass and broad-leaved weed control. Clearly we wouldnt recommend using it where there are large blackgrass plants. But for untreated November, December and even January sowings it offers a good start, and there may be scope for some dose adjustment."
Cleavers could also catch growers out, he believes. "The general consensus is that you have up to GS31 to control them. But in these more open later sown crops cleavers will be very vigorous, and if you havent used a base treatment they could become rampant as soon as the weather warms up.
"If you get the chance to go on early why not take it?" Lotus (cinidon-methyl) works well in cool conditions, he notes. "It also has a good range of tank-mix options."
Winter cereal weed control
* Risk of neglect on later sowings.
* Spray windows when cannot drill.
* Base treatment to ease pressure.
* Cleavers threat to thin stands.
WINTER CEREAL WEED CONTROL
• Risk of neglect on later sowings.
• Spray windows when cannot drill.
• Base treatment to ease pressure.
• Cleavers threat to thin stands.