It’s always better to prevent a problem altogether than fix it after it occurs. When it comes to weed control, prevention is the most effective way to win the fight against herbicide-resistant pigweed.
Once pigweed has entered the field, it is difficult to successfully remove and prevent it from spreading. But several preventive measures can help eliminate pigweed before the problem takes hold.
Cultural and Mechanical
Incorporating cultural practices can give the crop a competitive advantage over pigweed. Planting crops in narrow rows, for example, can allow for faster canopy development and reduces sunlight to emerging weeds. Developing a crop rotation allows the use of a wider array of herbicides in your weed control program. Cover crops can suppress weed growth by outcompeting weeds for sunlight, water, and nutrients.
Mechanical practices can also disrupt weed seed germination and eliminate weeds. Tillage and cultivation move weed seed below the germination zone or uproots emerged weeds, respectively. By putting these tools to use, the number of weeds left to control chemically is reduced, alleviating some of the selection pressure from use of herbicides alone.
Chemical Control and Seed Trait Selection
Effective herbicides are an essential part of any robust weed control program. A complete chemical weed control program includes the choice to use conventional or multiple herbicide-tolerant trait platforms. Also, residual herbicides should be added to the tank with pre- and post-emergence herbicide applications, with multiple sites of action and proper application techniques to target small weeds and optimize nozzle and spray parameters.
Though herbicides kill weeds and enable a crop to grow and thrive, sometimes herbicides applied improperly can damage the crop. When applying herbicides, start by correctly applying the amount of product per label instructions to cut down on herbicide expenditure and avoid crop injury.
Following proper sprayer hygiene is a critical step when switching between spraying fields with different herbicide tolerant platforms. Raven’s Boom Recirculation™ System, can help ensure proper spray patterns and uniform application. Raven’s Boom Recirculation™ System can aid in efficient priming of the boom and plumbing system by circulating liquid from the outside tip of the boom and back to the center section, reducing product settling and eliminating waste.
Eradication Diligence
It’s important to take all the necessary steps to remove the last weed standing before it produces seed. This means managing field edges, ponds and ditches to prevent weed seed production, and hand-rouging weed escapes to prevent seeds from entering the soil seed bank and cleaning equipment to ensure seed doesn’t travel with you from field to field.
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