Mission possible
Ridding potato crops of weed competition early and safely is important in order to protect yield potential and make the crop easier to manage, but it has become a more challenging task as a number of key active ingredients are no longer registered. A novel formulation of diquat, Mission will come to the rescue of growers who are looking for a practical solution to their weed control problems this spring.
"A number of potato herbicides, terbutryne, terbuthylazine and monolinuron have all been lost through lack of support through re-registration and last year the registration of paraquat as in PDQ was annulled. Growers are allowed to use paraquat up until the 11th July 2008, but as there is very little product in the system, many growers will be forced to take a different tack and move to another total herbicide such as diquat. Containing 200 g/l diquat, Mission can be used for weed control in potatoes pre-emergence up to 10% emergence of earlies and 40% emergence in maincrop," explains Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager, Interfarm (UK) Ltd.
Mission is particularly effective on broad-leaved weeds such as chickweed, cleavers, fat-hen, groundsel, knotgrass, speedwell, and small nettle. It also has some activity on small meadow-grass. "Diquat acts very quickly, which is an advantage if you are mixing with linuron as it limits any uptake of herbicide and so limits any potential for crop damage which can occur with slower-acting herbicides. Mission has a flexible label allowing 2 l/ha plus non-ionic wetter for weed control followed by a 4 l/ha for desiccation, not the case for all diquat products," says Dr. Stormonth.
Mission contains 200 g/litre paraquat as a water soluble concentrate formulation. It is approved for weed control in potatoes and in edible and non-edible row crops such as sugar beet and ornamentals. It is also approved as a desiccant for potatoes, oilseed rape, combining peas, red and white clover for seed, field beans, barley and oats for animal feed and linseed and for hop stripping. In potatoes it is recommended at a dose rate of 2 l/ha for weed control and a further 4 l/ha for desiccation. It is not subject to LERAP B and packed in a 5 litre pack. It is available via Interfarm distributors.
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
