Keep tank-mixes simple for maximum impact
Bayer CropScience has suggested growers pay greater attention to the possibility that over-complex tank mixes could compromise their crops yield potential.
Last years messages about simplifying tank mixes have been heeded, it says, but to underline its commitment to help growers get the most from their crops, and spring applications of Atlantis WG (mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl), updated tank-mix guidelines have been issued in which Folicur (tebuconazole) disappears from the approved list of Atlantis tank-mix partners.
Our core guideline of using Atlantis WG + biopower alone to maximise efficacy against increasingly difficult black-grass remains, advises Simon Gage, commercial technical manager.
Atlantis WG is a contact spray – sticking to the leaves and entering the black-grass quickly. There is a risk that additives wetters, adjuvants, stickers and so on contained in other products can interact negatively with Atlantis and this process, he explains.
Mr Gage says the company understands the pressures that drive growers to tank-mix: lack of suitable spray windows, cost, and workload but points out, A grower who decides to compromise the Atlantis application is, for the cost of one additional pass, risking reduced efficacy, surviving black-grass and reduced yield.
This advice is complementary to our recommendation of prioritising size of black-grass over waiting until later in the spring for more traditional ideal
News Release Date: 14 02 2011 Bayer CropScience Ltd 230 Cambridge Science Park Milton Road Cambridge CB4 0WB UK
growing conditions, by which time black-grass could be well into tillering or beyond.
Grass-weed control is often an autumn job that didnt get done, so it should be prioritised above all spring jobs. Tackling Septoria and broad-leaved weeds well have plenty more opportunities to complete these tasks, but you only get one shot at black-grass, he says.
Finally, application technique is also very important: keep speed below 12kph with a stable boom height and make sure your nozzles are producing a fine to medium spray. Paying attention to these details will ultimately ensure the best possible effect from your application.
About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6.5 billion (2009), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and traits. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of 18,700 and is represented in more than 120 countries.