Written by Charlotte Cunningham
Broadleaf weed control is proving decidedly more challenging this spring, so extra care will be required when applying post-emergence herbicides to thin or stressed crops, according to the latest advice from Hutchinsons. Charlotte Cunningham reports. While the recent spell of dry weather has allowed drills to catch up after the wet winter, Hutchinson’s northern regional technical manager, Cam Murray, says the winter legacy on soil condition is still being felt in many situations, especially late-sown winter crops that struggled to establish, while spring-sown crops also now need rain to improve establishment. Spring-germinating weeds continue to emerge though, and will pose a significant challenge to yield potential if not controlled effectively, he says. “Sulfonylurea chemistry is a key option for post-emergence broadleaf weed control, but in thin, patchy crops, there’s a risk more active will hit the soil rather than the leaves of the crop being treated, leaving residues that could cause issues in following crops, notably OSR.” Greater risk The risk is greater when applying actives with longer half-lives (the time taken for 50% of the herbicide to break down into secondary compounds in the soil), such as mesosulfuron, or metsulfuron, adds Cam. “Growers with a thin crop where there’s more…
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