Start the new year with early cleavers removal in winter wheat

UK - January 13, 2006

To protect winter wheat yields growers should control cleavers left after autumn pre-emergent and early post emergent herbicides advises Dow AgroSciences. 

The autumn herbicide programmes worked well on grassweeds, leaving low levels of blackgrass and wild oats to clear up.  But the widespread use of minimal tillage, early drilling with low seed rates and an exceptionally warm autumn has produced above average cleavers populations.  Growth is now well advanced and could soon affect crop yields. 

“Winter wheat crops will benefit from a late winter or early spring tank mix of Boxer (florasulam) and grass weed herbicides.  The tank-mix will control cleavers and complete blackgrass and wild-oat kill with no reduction in efficacy of either product,” says technical services leader David Roberts. 

Trials have shown the optimum time for cleavers removal is GS31/32.  Boxer gave the highest percentage control and the highest yield response over its competitors in 33 cleavers control trials treated between 16th February and 19th March.