Early Meadowgrass & BLW control in spring cereals

A difficult autumn has led to an increase in spring cropping area in 2020. Much of this crop will go on land that historically contains heavy grassweed pressure. It is more important than ever to ensure a good return from your spring crops that grassweed control is managed early as there are no products to take out these weeds later in the crop. Getting a good residual base on is a key decision.

Where grassweeds like black-grass are not the main concern but annual meadow grass and broad-leaved weeds are the problem, again it is important to get on top of these weeds before they compete too much for nutrients and start robbing yield potential. Residual chemistry provides broad, long lasting control.

Key Messages

• Strong residual activity from Picona^® or Stomp^® Aqua provides season long control of key spring germinating grass and broad-leaved weeds like AMG, fumitory, poppy, polygonums, chickweed, pansy, speedwells and crane’s-bill.
• Pendimethalin and picolinafen are non-SU, providing different modes of action options for broad-leaved resistance management controlling both ALS-resistant and sensitive poppy and chickweed.
• Picolinafen complements the broad-leaved weed activity of pendimethalin, through residual and contact activity enhancing cleaver and charlock control.

Spring crops and weeds grow fast and vigorously, any weeds that germinate alongside the crop immediately compete for water and nutrition. To combat this, applying early herbicides with residual activity will help the crop achieve its yield potential.

It is often said “Residuals don’t work in the dry”. However, if there is adequate moisture for the crop to germinate then there is adequate moisture for the weeds to chit too. This level of moisture will also be enough for residual herbicides to work. Pre-emergence applications of herbicides create greater flexibility at a busy time of year by keeping crops cleaner for longer. This also prevents complicated tank mixes later in the season when fungicides, trace elements and PGRs may be potentially all applied at once.

• Pre or very early post-em sprays are vital to avoid any weed competition with the crop
• Timing is crucial for the best results:
  • Spray within 48 hours of drillin
  • Ideally, spray on to moist, clod free and consolidated seedbeds
  • Ensure the seed is adequately covered by 3.2cm of settled soil

Product Recommendation

* Users must ensure that all conditions specified in the Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use are complied with and must be in possession of the Notice of Extension of Use, before applications are made. The EAMU can be downloaded at: https://secure.pesticides.gov.uk/offlabels/search.asp.

The Extension of Authorised Use for Stomp^® Aqua on Spring Wheat (above) is off-label and used entirely at grower’s own risk.

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. Or call the BASF Technical Services Hotline: 0845 602 2553.

Picona^® contains picolinafen and pendimethalin. Stomp^® Aqua contains pendimethalin.

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