Adama says trials with diflufenican, pendimethalin and chlorotoluron have all been shown to improve the efficacy of aclonifen and cinmethylin-based programmes.
Trials have shown that the addition of Anthem (400 g/L pendimethalin) significantly improves black-grass control when used alongside a tank mix of Proclus (aclonifen) plus Liberator (flufenacet and diflufenican).
“In six independent trials, which included work carried out by ADAS and NIAB, the inclusion of pendimethalin alongside these newer chemistries improved blackgrass control by between 10 and 16%,” says Adama herbicides technical specialist Holly Pratt
“Pendimethalin can either be included at the pre- or post-emergence timing by applying Anthem alongside other actives, or by applying Tower (250 g/L chlorotoluron, 40 g/L diflufenican and 300 g/L pendimethalin). Either way, blackgrass control will be enhanced, helping growers take control of weed pressure before it has the opportunity to impact crop establishment and yield potential.
“Similarly, where a pre-emergence application of cinmethylin and pendimethalin has been applied, a post-emergence application of Tower will extend the window of weed control and help maintain a cleaner crop through the early stages of development.
“The key thing to remember is that the efficacy offered by a tank mix containing several actives is often greater than the sum of its individual chemistries,” Holly concludes. “As always, timing, rate and accuracy of application are just as important as the actives being used. The strongest weed control programmes are built from the start, because once weeds emerge, you are chasing the problem rather than preventing it.”
