Potato growers are set to benefit from a new pre-emergence residual active this season, to control broad-leaved and grassweeds.

Praxim has now approved and contains the new residual active ingredient metobromuron, explains Belchim marketing and development manager Simon Leak.

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“It can be used pre-emergence right up to cracking of the ridges. Post-emergence use is not approved and trials have shown significant crop effects can occur when applied after emergence,” he explains. 

“It has been approved on all soil types, including sands, and a wide range of following crop options are available on the Praxim label.”

The maximum label dose is four litres/ha, which achieves control of a wide spectrum of broad-leaved weeds and a number of grassweeds including annual meadow grass, he adds.

“It has been approved on all soil types, including sands, and a wide range of following crop options are available on the Praxim label.”
Simon Leak, Belchim marketing development manager

“Whilst the activity of Praxim is mainly residual, via root uptake and subsequent photosynthetic inhibition causing weed death, there is also a degree of contact activity on susceptible emerged weeds. This can prove useful when used on high organic matter soils where the active can be bound to the soil, reducing the efficacy. 

Where significant weed emergence is present at application, he recommends the addition of a specific contact herbicide.

Praxim may be tank-mixed to achieve control of some more difficult weeds, such as cleavers with Gamit (clomazone) or prosulfocarb, the latter being a useful partner on very light soils, he adds.

“For improved control of high-polygonum populations it is suggested to tank mix with a metribuzin-based product or pendimethalin if metribuzin sensitivity is an issue.

“Optimum weed control will be achieved when soils are moist at or shortly following application. Praxim is physically compatible with all major potato herbicides,” he says.