Remove the risks that threaten herbicide efficacy

For many arable growers across the UK, grass-weed control is one of the biggest headaches in the Autumn and why removing the risks that threaten herbicide efficacy by adding Backrow, makes perfect sense.

With herbicide resistance a problem in black-grass and Italian ryegrass, and suspected in brome, eeking out every ounce of herbicide activity is critical to keep on top of populations. However, poor seed beds and application conditions can reduce coverage, whilst light soils and herbicides with a low adsorption have a tendency to leach. Applying adjuvant Backrow with residual herbicides at the pre- and peri-emergence spray timing will improve control by increasing the number of weeds coming into contact with the herbicide at emergence, whilst increased herbicide persistence in the weed rooting zone will control more flushes that may evolve over time and prevent crop damage, leading to a healthier more competitive crop.

Replicated field trials over the last 9 years have shown that Backrow improves the performance of a whole host of residual herbicides, improving black-grass control by 9% (Fig 1) and overall weed control by 13% on average.

Improved contact

Whether you’re winning, losing or standing still in your grass-weed battle, eeking out every last drop of herbicide activity is critical in winning the war. For black-grass growers, the 98% control required to stop the problem from escalating is not an easy challenge to overcome, particularly when the weather and application conditions are often unfavourable in the Autumn. Achieving robust coverage of the soil with the herbicide spray to intercept germinating weeds is essential.

Research and spray application studies have shown that Backrow optimises herbicide droplet size so driftable fines are reduced, creating the perfect droplet for optimal coverage. As a result, Backrow is able to increase the number of weeds that the herbicide comes into contact with at emergence, increasing the likelihood that all emerging weeds will be controlled.

Increased persistence

If there’s one thing we can predict about Autumn weed control, it’s that weed germination is often unpredictable with several flushes likely before the year is out. With the exception of pendimethalin that binds tightly to soil organic matter, most herbicides including flufenacet and prosulfocarb, are moderately mobile and can leach from the top 5cm of the soil to the crop rooting zone.

Extensive work has shown that Backrow increases the persistence of herbicides (and other crop protection products) in the top 5cm of the soil, possibly helping to increase the number of weed flushes controlled. The ability of Backrow to retain soil moisture means it also offers better weed control in dry conditions.

Improved crop safety

The stacking of residual herbicides has become the norm for growers with a grass-weed problem but it can threaten crop safety if rain leaches the herbicides to the crop’s rooting zone in the soil profile. The ability of Backrow to “retain” herbicides (and other crop protection products) in the top 5cm of the soil offers growers a crop safety benefit. A crop that hasn’t been “knocked” by herbicides will be healthier and also more competitive against germinating weeds.