Meadow-grass control planning autumn
Posted 15 years ago
01/08/2011
Tips to optimise/maximise grass-weed control this autumn
- Use as many cultural methods as possible to reduce grass-weed numbers prior to crop establishment
- Refer to HGCA guide ‘Managing Weeds in Arable Rotations’. Ask your local Bayer contact for a copy or go to www.hgca.comand click on publications
Apply the pre-emergence herbicide as a true pre-emergence application
- Liberator works best as a true pre-emergence herbicide
- Liberator has the flexibility to be used at early post-emergence as well
- Aim to apply within 48 hours of drilling. DO NOT be tempted to wait for moisture to be present before
- spraying
- Removing weeds early with Liberator is still the most cost-effective option
Trials results have shown that 0.3 L/ha liberator applied pre-emergence will control meadow-grasses. However where a broad specturm of broad-leaved weeds are present, tank-mixes with other herbicides have been shown to improve their control (see below)
Othello – the reliable post-em option for meadow-grass control in winter wheat
If the pre- & early post-em. timings have been missed than a contact product such as Othello is the best option
Protect yield
• Leaving meadow-grass uncontrolled throughout the autumn saps yield
Gives you the best chance of the very best control
- Small plants are easier to kill
- Softer growth in the autumn allows better uptake of Othello
- Control is better going into a cold period than coming out of a cold period
Only use recommended tank-mixes
- Complicated tank-mixes can reduce Othello efficacy and increase risk of crop effects
- Applying Othello in the autumn reduces demand for tank-mixing making the application more likely to give good control levels and stay crop safe