Weed control in winter beans

Why grow winter beans?

• Free residual N – peas and beans typically leave 50-75 kgN/ha for the following crop
• Yield boost to following crops – 0.7-1.0 t/ha average yield increase in winter wheat
• Black-grass control – later sown autumn crops allow more time for stale seedbeds
• Spreads farm workload – more efficient use of farm machinery and labour
• Break disease cycle in OSR and Cereals – good crop rotation gives a range of benefits
• Improved soil structure and soil health – providing benefits across the rotation

However, beans by their nature are not competitive crops

• Sown at low plant population
• Slow establishment and early growth means they don’t reach full ground cover very quickly
• Highly vulnerable to early weed pressure

Good rapid establishment is important

• Good seedbeds and soil structure aid establishment and efficacy and safety of pre-ems
• Beans are sensitive to compaction, another reason for good seedbeds and soil structure
• Drill to suitable depth (min 3 cm good soil cover over seed, avoid cloddy seedbeds)
• Optimum plant density is 20 plants/m² fully established
• Make the most of the chance to control black-grass before the crop is sown
• Effective weed control ensures easier harvest without the need for desiccation

Pre-em weed control solutions

Nirvana^® (PDM + imazamox) is the most reliable pre-emergence option in field beans.

• 2 herbicide modes of action for improved efficacy and resistance risk management
• The addition of imazamox to pendimethalin, complements its activity to give a wider spectrum of broad-leaved weed control along with the longest residual activity available
• Early control of a wide range of competitive broad-leaved weeds
• Good residual activity covers the germination periods of key weeds e.g. Annual meadow grass, Cleavers, Poppy, Charlock and later germinating weeds like Black bindweed, Fat-hen, Redshank and Knotgrass
• Nirvana^® gives improved control of brassicas, mayweed and speedwells over straight PDM

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact your local BASF agronomy manager. Contact details can be found here.

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

Nirvana^® contains pendimethalin + imazamox.