Arable
Liquid nitrogen doubles OSR root length Independent ADAS trials have shown that a balanced autumn Bionature liquid fertiliser regime doubles OSR root length. Results from 2019 crops showed that Bionature’s Delta liquid nitrogen applied at the recommended rate, achieved 104 per cent increase in specific root length, when compared to the nontreated control. Bionature UK director Mark Carter explains that getting OSR established and away rapidly is important in counteracting various pests and diseases. “Early root development is key to rapid emergence and this is stimulated
by readily available nitrogen, so the plant can develop an efficient root system. “Autumn-applied Delta liquid fertiliser has a positive charge, which means it sticks to the soil, as well as penetrating it, leading to an increase in nitrogen use efficiency. It also means less nitrogen will be lost through leaching,” adds Mark. Bionature Delta fertiliser is a stabilised nitrogen fertiliser with potassium, for improved rooting, stress tolerance, crop quality and yield production. Delta is available in pack sizes of 20 litres or 1,000-litre IBCs, and is compatible with most other crop protection products on the market. FG
Delivering Crop Nutrition Enhance Early Rooting
Call us now for free advice and find out how we can help or visit our website
www.bionatureagriculture.com Untreated control (left) and Delta treated OSR (right).
Mark Carter (Northern & Midlands) Tom Robinson (Southern)
01673 838143
07950 313704
07494 668732
info@bionatureagriculture.com
Why Avadex will suit this autumn Gowan Crop Protection Ltd’s UK and Ireland development manager Barrie Hunt is well aware that most arable farmers, after last year’s difficult planting conditions, will be wanting to plant as much wheat as they can this autumn – but he warns that early drilling brings a number of problems. “If you look at the germination pattern of black-grass, it normally peaks in mid-October, so the earlier you drill, the more weeds you will have to cope with within the crop. However, with a crop drilled on 15th October, you can deal with much of the black-grass through an application of glyphosate. By bringing the drilling date forward, the amount of black-grass that
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stack applied pre-emergence. Early drilling can also mean dry seed beds – not ideal for many residual herbicides,” he says. “Growers need to weigh up their options, and the best approach may be to avoid drilling in September. However, you need to be prepared. If you are going early, your pre-ems need to perform well and for a long time, to make sure weeds are
Tri-allate – the active ingredient in Avadex products – has physical chemical characteristics which mean it has a greater tolerance of dry seed beds than some other autumn herbicides, such as pendimethalin, prosulfocarb or flufenacet.
has to be controlled in-crop escalates and will put pressure on the performance of the herbicide
controlled. Tri-allate – the active ingredient in Avadex products – has physical chemical characteristics
which mean it has a greater tolerance of dry seed beds than some other autumn herbicides such as pendimethalin, prosulfocarb or flufenacet. Of the Avadex products, Avadex Excel 15G is better suited to drier early-season use, and growers should aim to apply it within 48 hours of drilling. If it is bone dry and nothing is growing, there is no rush; you can wait for the rain to allow the black-grass to germinate. Avadex Factor fits better on later drilled crops in October/November, when there are better pre-em conditions and good seed beds and moisture,” he advises. Avadex also has good staying power, as indicated by its half-life in soil. Tri-allate’s half-life in soil is around 3 months compared with the half-life in soil of flufenacet, which is 20 days and prosulfocarb, which is just 12 days. This means tri-allate has good longevity, which will be needed in the autumn – especially if drilling earlier.
Although the focus is so often on black-grass, do not forget the excellent wild oat control that Avadex brings as well as useful activity against rye grass and brome species. Recent work by Agherba in Bristol shows that Avadex will control these grass weeds well if conditions are optimal. It also brings a very useful contributory control of some key broad-leaved weeds including cleavers, charlock and chicweed. “It is good product stewardship that, before drilling, growers ensure that their granule applicator is calibrated correctly to apply 15kg/ha and that the granules are applied evenly across the boom width. The correct amount of herbicide granule must be delivered down each pipe and Barrie recommends that a patternation test is carried out along with the calibration. “Blackgrass is such a competitive weed, that accurate and even application is essential,” he concludes. FG
26 www.farmersguide.co.uk September 2020
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