Ryegrass and Brome Control in Winter Cereals

Ryegrass and bromes are becoming an increasing problem on many farms and just like black-grass, are very competitive species that can cause serious yield losses.

High levels of control are required to prevent populations increasing each year. This can only be achieved by using an integrated programme of cultural and chemical measures.

Generally, ploughing is the most effective cultivation technique for both ryegrass and brome.

However, it is important to know which brome species are present so that the timing of cultivations to prepare a stale seedbed can be adapted accordingly, as shown in the table below.

Chemical control

A sequence of both pre and post-em herbicide applications are required for effective control of ryegrass and all brome species.

Pre-emergence

Crystal^® is the strongest and has the most consistent pre-emergence activity because it contains flufenacet and pendimethalin, which are the 2 most effective residual actives against ryegrass and brome.
PDM gives greater residual activity to control later germinators.
Use 4 l/ha Crystal^® to deliver the required amounts of flufenacet and pendimethalin.

Post-emergence

Crop dependent, but extra pendimethalin is valuable to ‘top-up’ the residual activity to control later germinating weeds (this is particularly valuable for ryegrass which has a prolonged germination period).
ALS-inhibiting herbicides such as Atlantis^®, Hamlet^® and Broadway^® Star give good activity against ryegrass and all brome species.
Post-em contact acting graminicides still benefit from being mixed with a strong residual such as pendimethalin as in Stomp^® Aqua and Picona^®.
Aim to apply the post-em spray in the autumn to give better control of sterile brome and ryegrass.
Post-em treatment of meadow, soft and rye bromes can be more effective if delayed until early spring.
Important to note that ALS-inhibiting herbicides are not approved for use in barley - all you can do is top up the flufenacet and pendimethalin.
There are no post emergent contact acting herbicides effective on brome in barley or oats. Consider alternative crops to these in fields with known brome problems.

Crystal^® is the best pre-em start for the control of ryegrass and brome

Spray within 48 hours of drilling ideally to moist, clod-free and consolidated seedbeds.
Ensure seed is covered by 32mm of settled soil. Treat shallow drilled crops post-em.

Pre and Early Post-Emergent Programmes for Ryegrass & Brome

Post-em rate of Picona^® or Stomp^® Aqua is dependent on amount of pendimethalin applied pre-em; do not exceed 2000 g/ha. The use of large product mixes/stacks at this sensitive crop growth stage carries the risk of crop damage

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact your local BASF agronomy manager. Contact details can be found at www.agricentre.basf.co.uk. Alternatively, call our technical hotline: 0845 602 2553.

_{Crystal^® contains flufenacet and pendimethalin. Picona^® contains picolinafen and pendimethalin. Stomp^® Aqua contains pendimethalin. Liberator^® contains flufenacet and diflufenican. Hurricane^® contains diflufenican. Broadway^® Star contains pyroxsulam and florasulam. Atlantis^® contains mesosulfuron-methyl and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium. Axial^® contains pinoxaden. Defy^® contains prosulfocarb. Crystal^®, Quirinus^®, Picona^® and Stomp^® are registered trademarks of BASF. All other products are those of other manufacturers where proprietary rights may exist. Always read the label and product information before use. For further product information including warning phrases and symbols refer to https://agriculture.basf.com/gb/en}