Timely treatment will secure yields

UK - February 18, 2009

Timely treatment of broadleaved weeds with Galera in oilseed rape crops will help maximise yield potential advises Dow AgroSciences.

Reduced use of pre-emergence residual herbicides in the autumn, difficult weather conditions and pigeon attack has created backward, gappy crops with high populations of broadleaved weeds, which will have an impact on yield.

Cleavers are the most aggressive broadleaved weeds affecting yield in oilseed rape, closely followed by mayweeds, groundsel and thistles. Yield loss can amount to hundreds of pound.

“The temptation is to get out now and treat with Galera,” says Dow AgroSciences technical expert David Roberts. “However, caution is required to optimise performance. Galera requires stable air temperatures of at least 6ºC and rising, and the warmer and more stable the conditions the better the results are likely to be.

“Galera also needs six hours drying time after application to dry on leaves for best results. A breeze to dry plants off in the morning and a planned application during the warmest part of the day will pay dividends. With the cut off of flower buds visible above the crop canopy, opportunities to spray should not be missed.”

“Growers should check crops now and make sure they have the required amount of Galera on farm, ready to apply when conditions are right,” adds Roberts.