Controlling weeds in pulse phase unlocks multiple benefits for Coonalpyn grower
New chemistry in the pulse rotation has provided an instant weed control boost for Neville Kernick, who farms 2,800 hectares of cropping and grazing country in southeast South Australia.
Pulses play a critical role for the Coonalpyn farmer, providing an important break crop in the rotation. Cropping and grazing across three properties which total 2,800 hectares, Neville and his wife Celia produce beans, canola, wheat and barley.
Not only do pulses provide a nitrogen-fixing boost, but Neville finds the phase also provides an opportunity, when coupled with the right chemistry, to get on top of weed control.
“Weed management is absolutely critical. If you've got a high population of weeds, you get low yields and quality issues, so we've got to make sure that we are controlling weeds in our crops,” Neville explains.
When they introduced REFLEX® Herbicide from Syngenta into their pulse program in 2021, Neville found the control of wild radish was immediately superior, with the product proving to be a standout when used side-by-side with other chemistry.
REFLEX® is a Group 14 (G) residual herbicide with the active ingredient fomesafen. It is registered for control of a range of hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds including Indian hedge mustard, wild turnip, fumitory, prickly lettuce, sow thistle and wild radish, in chickpeas, narrow leaf lupins, field peas, faba beans, vetch and lentils. It also has control claims for bifora, wireweed, deadnettle and black mustard, as well as suppression on slender celery, fleabane, toad rush, crassula, jersey cudweed, capeweed and double gee. REFLEX® can either be incorporated by sowing (IBS) or applied post-sowing pre-emergence (except in lentils).
“We had certainly heard that REFLEX® was dynamite on wild radish,” Neville says. “We have a handful of paddocks that have been historically very difficult to control the wild radish in, but when we applied REFLEX®, alongside some other chemistry, it blew the other products out of the water.”
Neville applied REFLEX® IBS at 1.5 L/ha, which he found to be very effective in-between the rows, however, as expected, there were some escapees in the row. With confidence in the crop safety of the product, Neville is likely to also use REFLEX® post-sowing pre-emergence (PSPE) in the 2022 season.
“That flexibility has a big role at seeding,” he says. “I would prefer to run all IBS, but I can see that we are going to be potentially doing some PSPE application also, just to control those in-furrow escapes. To have that option is fantastic.”
Lochie Eats from Cox Rural in Keith provides agronomic advice to the Kernicks, and he agrees there is significant value in the flexibility REFLEX® provides.
Lochie Eats, Agronomist from Cox Rural based in Keith, South Australia.
“In 2021 I used REFLEX® at about five or six different farms across south east SA, targeting broadleaf weeds that we've traditionally found hard to manage,” he recalls.
“Applying REFLEX® as an IBS treatment has provided very high efficacy, although there were some escapees in the crop furrow. I've found the highest efficacy out of this product when applied PSPE, as you pick up those weeds located in the crop furrow.
“Seeding's a very busy time for farmers and having that flexibility to come back over the top once the crop's sown is a major win.
“It also provides about 10 to 12 weeks residual control, which is pretty significant when compared to some competitor products at about eight weeks control.”
While there are benefits to growing a clean pulse crop with REFLEX®, Lochie believes it also has great value in setting up the paddock for the broader cropping rotation.
“Historically, we haven't been able to effectively control broadleaf weeds in the pulse section of the rotation,” he explains. “Now with REFLEX®, we seem to be able to manage those hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds and that sets us up well for the cereal phase.
“We follow faba beans with a triazine canola, and so there's also huge benefit to removing the triazine chemistry out of the pulse rotation. By using REFLEX® instead, we can then save that chemistry for the TT canola rotation the following year.”
It’s a point which Neville agrees on, with REFLEX® reducing the weed burden heading into this year’s cereal rotation.
“In our bean and canola years we tended to have broadleaf weeds get away from us a little bit, they're tougher to control in those crops, and so then it's a big job for the broadleaf herbicides in the cereal phase,” Neville says.
“REFLEX® is a new chemistry group, and it’s absolutely fantastic to have new options. I'd strongly recommend it, REFLEX® has been a really good fit in our program and definitely very strong on wild radish.
“I think we got great value for money because REFLEX® has delivered sensational control, and we've seen excellent yields from our beans off the back of it.”
Having been impressed by the performance of REFLEX® with his clients in 2021, Lochie believes the chemistry has huge potential in a range of pulse crops in his region.
“Growing pulses in the Southeast is an essential part of our rotation and I believe REFLEX® will play a major role in controlling those hard to kill broadleaf weed species to increase our yields and also set us up for the next cereal phase,” he says.
“I see it having a huge fit and I intend to recommend REFLEX® a lot into the future just because it has such a high level of control of those hard-to-kill broadleaf leaf weed species in the pulse rotation.”
For more information contact your local Syngenta representative.
ENDS
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