Home News & Events 20 years and still the best start to black grass control Crystal®

20 years and still the best start to black-grass control - Crystal®

Challenges for autumn 2021:

We know that following last season many growers will want to drill their winter cereals earlier this autumn as the harsh conditions and experiences of last autumn are still clear in the memory. If you are drilling winter cereals, and you know you have black-grass present in your fields, then our key advice remains the same.

  • Harvest hygiene – Reduce the spread of grass seeds off the field
  • Stale seedbed and stubble management – depending on weather conditions and soil moisture, actively promote a black-grass chit to spray off or wait for moisture.
  • Delay drilling – all the evidence points to delayed drilling having a massive contribution to reduced black-grass emergence. Wait as long as you can, particularly in your bad fields.
  • Make sure seedbed conditions are suitable to get the best out of soil residual chemistry.
  • Get your best material on pre-emergence – Apply Crystal® as your best start to black-grass control.

Flufenacet is renowned for its grassweed herbicide control, but it’s important not to underestimate the power of pendimethalin, and the benefits it brings to a robust herbicide programme. The residual compound not only contributes to the management of black-grass, but it also offers strong, long lasting broad-leaved weed control. You can take a look for yourself on the Real Results Virtual Farm: https://hardwick.basfrealresultsfarm.com/.

Cultural controls such as delayed drilling, spring cropping and rogueing are all vital when it comes to reaching the 97% control needed to finally move the needle in a positive direction on black-grass. Effective pre-emergence herbicide application is still one of the most powerful tools in the toolbox when utilised alongside cultural controls, so it’s important to use the best on the market. In our Strong Against Weeds Together interviews we chat to growers, advisors and independent experts asking them about the important balance between IPM and chemical control. Keep your eyes peeled on our social channels for a chance to listen to our series of interviews.