Why caution is needed with late-applied herbicides
© Tim Scrivener Growers planning to apply a pre- or post-emergence herbicide to late-sown crops need to be aware of the potential risks to crop safety and efficacy where conditions are suboptimal, warns one agronomy firm.
After an exceptionally wet autumn across much of the UK, drilling of winter crops has been disrupted, with some growers eager to seize any opportunity to get remaining crops in.
However, even if it is possible to get back on the land, wet soils present real challenges for crop establishment and weed control, says Hutchinsons technical support manager Duncan Connabeer.
See also: Natural bioherbicides show promise in tackling weeds
“Where crops have been drilled or mauled in late November, rough seed-beds will inevitably reduce the efficacy of residuals, and increase the risk of damage.”
He warns that any crops that have been broadcast onto seed-beds rather than drilled, should not be treated with residual chemistry due to the risks of crop damage.
In fact, herbicide manufacturers do not support the use of their products in such situations.
Risks are increased because seeds will be germinating within the zone of herbicide activity – rather than growing through it – and will be more susceptible to adverse effects.
For winter beans, Duncan says to avoid any temptation to apply pre-emergence herbicides when the crop is emerging, or has already emerged.
A further consideration is where crops have been water stressed. In such cases, it is possible that rooting will have been affected, which could increase the risk of crop damage if soils stay wet after application.
He also points out that many products should not be used on soils that are waterlogged with drains flowing or prone to waterlogging.
This includes where growers are applying propyzamide to oilseed rape, although in such cases there is still sufficient time to get sprays on and still expect good efficacy before the application window closes at the end of January.
“Where other crops are still to be drilled, we may yet see good conditions for product use, but there may be further tank-mix and or timing constraints,” he adds.
“Much of what, and/or when, we can do things will be greatly dependent on drilling depth, seed-bed and soil conditions.”
Growers are also reminded that any winter cereal sown after the end of January is then classed as a spring cereal by the Health and Safety Executive’s Chemical Regulation Division, which reduces the herbicide options available – especially given recent changes to the extension of authorisations for spring crops.
Beware of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)
A mild, wet autumn has been ideal for aphids.
Where growers are applying post-emergence herbicides to crops that have exceeded 170 day degrees since emergence or the last aphicide application, Duncan Connabeer says to consider including a pyrethroid.
For those in high-risk areas, it may even be necessary to treat crops just for aphids, he says.
The recent cold spell will help to slow aphid activity, however he says that the two vectors – the grain aphid and the bird cherry-oat aphid – can survive relatively cold conditions.
They will become more active again as soon as conditions are warm enough.
“Grain aphid can take temperatures down to -8C or more, while the bird cherry-oat aphid is allegedly able to survive -0.5C for 24-48 hours.”
Monitoring shows there is more virus in aphids this autumn, and there are plenty of them around. So applying a treatment at the right time can be a worthwhile insurance policy to mitigate the risks.
“It only takes a mild day or two, and we’ll soon see more aphid flights, so growers in high-risk areas in particular need to be vigilant.”
Waiting until the spring T0 fungicide is too late, he adds. “A lot of the BYDV in the 2022-23 crop was spread in the winter/early spring, before the T0 was applied,” he recalls.
