Cut down Cleavers in the Autumn
With straight CMPP-p no longer registered for use in the autumn and other widely used autumn herbicides showing none or limited activity on cleavers, this highly competitive weed has become a challenge to control adequately in wheat.
"Cleavers can be found all over the UK now, having spread Northwards with autumn cropping. It is a very competitive weed that not only competes with the crop, but also causes problems of lodging as it chokes and climbs over the crop in the spring. If that wasn’t bad enough, cleavers are also a major nuisance at harvest, wrapping around and tangling in the combine, leading to increased harvesting and labour costs. The seeds can be difficult to remove from wheat samples, causing grain losses and higher cleaning and drying costs in store," says Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager for Interfarm.
"With its main peak of germination in the early autumn, between September to October, it really needs removing in the autumn. Leaving weed control until the spring allows this competitive weed to erode yield and get a hold of the wheat crop when it is at its most vulnerable."
"When it comes to cleaver control, FMX (flumioxazin), available as Digital, Guillotine and SumiMax, is as good as it gets, better than anything else in the autumn. In trials when applied early post-emergence at 100 mls/ha, SumiMax gave 99% control of cleavers. It is particularly effective when cleavers are just germinating or very small. Its use in the autumn could mean that you are unlikely to have to overspray in the spring," reports David.
In addition to cleavers, FMX will also control annual sowthistle, charlock, chickweed, common field speedwell, crane’s-bill, field pansy, forget-me-not, fumitory, groundsel, ivy-leaved speedwell, mayweed, poppy, red deadnettle and Shepherd’s purse as well as annual meadow-grass, rye-grass, loose silky bent with moderate activity on black-grass.
"FMX can be mixed with a useful range of grass-weed herbicides and easily sequenced with any other herbicide or group. Having no varietal restrictions, no following crop restrictions and no following cultivation issues, FMX is easy to integrate into any autumn weed control programme. A new technical leaflet for FMX including all the information you need to get the best from this product can be downloaded from the FMX information centre on www.interfarm.co.uk."
David concludes that cleavers continue to be one of the most challenging and competitive broad-leaved weeds in wheat and its high seed production of between 300-400 seeds per plant will necessitate good control every year across the arable rotation.
For further comment and information, please contact Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager, Interfarm UK Ltd. on 01354 741414 or 07818 036506 (mobile) or via e-mail david.stormonth@interfarm.co.uk
Digital, Guillotine and SumiMax contain 300 gms ai/litre flumioxazin formulated as white, non-staining, easy-to-use suspension concentrates and packed in 500 ml packs. Recommended on all varieties of winter wheat, FMX (flumioxazin) can be used pre- or post-emergence up to before GS 15 for the control of a wide range of broad-leaved weeds and grass-weeds. It is recommended at 100 mls/ha in 200 litres of water, with one application per crop. It has both residual and contact activity, affecting weeds via leaves, stems and emerging roots and shoots. It is compatible with a wide range of relevant autumn products but should not be used with any adjuvants. It can be sequenced with any product including sulphonylureas, but a 14 day interval should be allowed. The use of a proprietary tank cleaner is recommended immediately after spraying to thoroughly clean all spray equipment, including booms, pumps, filters and lids.
