Weed control in winter beans

Nirvana®

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

Nirvana® Pre-emergence
4.5 l/ha
- One shot solution
- Long-lasting broad spectrum weed control
- Moderate to high weed populations
3.0 l/ha
- Moderate weed populations
- General broad leaf weed control
- May require post-emergence follow up
2.5 l/ha
- As a tank mix partner
- Broader spectrum that straight PDM
- Beware of compromising Nirvana’s weed benefits

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.

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