Early moves to target wild oats

Growers and agronomists now face the dilemma of an early application to remove competition from emerged wild oats, or holding off to allow more weeds to germinate.

Syngenta grassweeds technical manager, Georgina Wood, urges Axial Pro treatment as soon as conditions allow, once weeds are actively growing.

“That offers the chance to control wild oats more cost effectively at lower rates, whilst there is still the flexibility to tailor application rates up to 0.82 l/ha for larger or over wintered weeds and difficult situations.

“The variability of crops and situations this season means decisions for appropriate Axial Pro rates and application techniques will need to be made on a field-by-field basis,” she advised.

1617958650096.png


Miss Wood urges growers to identify their wild oat field populations, to help calculate potential spring treatment timing challenges.

“A higher proportion of Avena fatua, predominantly germinating in spring, for example, could result in a greater number of small seedlings more prone to shading by the crop, compared to the usually larger plants from autumn germinated overwintered Avena sterilis.

“Growers and operators will need to adapt their agronomy decisions and application options accordingly.”


Watch the Syngenta Spray Dudes demonstrate the principles of pressure and droplet size to target spring weeds


Find out how you can tell the difference between species at harvest and map your weed populations. Test your knowledge to gain BASIS and NRoSO points.

Wild oat treatment on target

Nozzle choice and sprayer set up holds the key to better targeting spring wild oat and grass weed control in growing crops this season.

Application timing of spring grass weed herbicides poses a particular challenge for sprayer operators, warns Syngenta application specialist, Harry Fordham.

1617958774021.png


exposed, he advocates the Syngenta 3-D nozzle would be the best option to target Axial Pro treatments, providing application conditions are good.

“However, as crops get larger, through stem elongation stages, and the grass weeds are more shaded under the canopy, the angled Amistar nozzle would be a better option to get more droplets down to reach the target.”

“The Amistar nozzle would also be a better option if application conditions are compromised at the earlier timing too, to reduce the risk of drift,” he advised.


Under pressure to hit weeds

Mr Fordham warned that when seeking to hit weeds under the crop canopy, the natural inclination for operators is to increase operating pressure to push sprays down to small weeds at the base of a crop.


However, increasing sprayer pressure actually produces a greater proportion of smaller droplets, which are more easily intercepted and retained in the crop canopy rather than reaching their weed target, as well as greater sensitivity to drift.

“Through nozzle selection and sprayer operation, it’s bigger droplets at lower pressure that have the momentum to reach the target.”

Syngenta application research has shown an operating pressure of 1.5 to 2.5 bar can be the optimum for both the Syngenta 3-D and Amistar nozzles used for Axial Pro application to target wild oats.

Mr Fordham also highlighted that the formulation of Axial Pro ensures good uptake and translocation of the active within an actively growing weed, to further increase performance on weeds under leaf shade.

1617958863492.png


Furthermore, in trials the new Syngenta 3D Ninety drift reduction nozzle (above), applying 200 l/ha, had also given good results – which could help with spring grass weed application opportunities in the future, he suggested.

Get the low down on wild oats for more effective control. Test your knowledge to gain BASIS and NRoSO points.


 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.3%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.9%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,292
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top