Setting up for a fruitful season
While pests and diseases are at the forefront of growers' minds, crop establishment begins with good weed management. Weeds compete with berries for water and nutrients and can slow the development of the crop.
Weeds can also make the micro-climate more favourable for pests and diseases. In some instances, weeds can harbour Botrytis cinerea, the same disease that infects berry crops. As such, weeds must be managed throughout the cropping season from pre-planting through to harvest.
To be effective, weed management strategies should utilize a variety of management practices. Good farm hygiene is always the first step – keeping an eye out for new weeds and working quickly to eradicate or reduce spread, and wherever possible stop weed seed set.
Physical strategies for weed management include cultivation, black plastic mulch, weed matting, thermal weeding, grazing and mulching. Mulching is the most effective of these and the benefits go far beyond weed control.
Mulching along rows with straw (or similar) will stop weed growth if applied thick enough to block sunlight. Mulching also increases moisture retention, regulates soil temperature and increases organic matter and soil microbe density.
Chemical herbicides are a cost-effective and reliable strategy for managing weeds. With an array of herbicides available, knowing how each works helps you get the best out of your herbicide application. Herbicides can be pre-emergent (applied before weeds emerge) or post-emergent (applied after the weed has emerged from the soil).
Syngenta Technical Services Lead Dr Brandy Rawnsley said knowing what weeds are in the field is important for product selection.
"During the season, growers may need a selective herbicide like FUSILADE® Forte which only controls grass weeds, whereas pre-planting they may be looking for a non-selective herbicide product (e.g. SPRAY.SEED® or glyphosate) that controls a broad range of weed types," she said.
"Both the selective and non-selective herbicides, like glyphosate, act through foliar application, and do not generally have any residual activity in the soil."
FUSILADE® Forte herbicide (Group 1) is a selective herbicide that provides powerful post-emergent control of couch, many annual grasses and certain perennial grasses in a range of horticultural crops, ornamentals and nursery trees. It can be used in blueberries, blackcurrants and strawberry crops at any time during the crop as either a blanket or spot spray.
"FUSILADE® Forte herbicide has a built-in adjuvant to help with coverage and retention and is quickly absorbed and translocated to the growing points of weeds," said Dr Rawnsley.
"To be most effective, apply FUSILADE® Forte to young, actively growing weeds at 3-5 leaf stage before tillering. The advanced formulation containing surfactants and wetting agent, ensures uniform distribution.
"Good coverage of weeds is essential, and should be matched to the weeds being sprayed, using water rates greater than 100 L/ha."
FUSILADE® Forte herbicide should not be applied to weeds that are not actively growing, under stress or to flowering weeds. FUSILADE® Forte herbicide has a 4 week withholding period in blueberries, blackcurrants and strawberries.
"FUSILADE® Forte herbicide can be applied at any stage throughout the year, when weeds are small, and is rainfast in 1 hour, which is significantly better than other some other grass selective herbicides," said Dr Rawnsley.
"FUSILADE® Forte is the perfect solution to control grass weeds and offers the flexibility to be tank-mixed with a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide if required."
Effective weed management relies on understanding the weed spectrum and tackling the problem early before weed populations get out of control. It is important to select herbicides based on the weed species and use the relevant label rate for that weed.
Also pay attention to water volumes with properly calibrated application equipment. With a bit of pre-thought, timely application will ensure effective weed control.
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