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ADAS Boxworth trial John Cussans

ADAS Boxworth Trial Series with John Cussans

Assessing the impact of drilling date, seed rate, and herbicide stack on blackgrass control
ADAS Boxworth trial John Cussans

In a trial being carried out by ADAS at its Boxworth site in Cambridgeshire, ADAMA is studying the effect of drilling date, seed rate and herbicide stack options on the effectiveness of weed control in cereals.

This year’s trial is an extension of similar work carried out in 2024. In this series of short videos, ADAMA’s herbicides specialist, Holly Pratt, discusses some of the trials aims and findings with John Cussans, ADAS Weed Science Principal Consultant.

TRIAL OVERVIEW

Holly and John discuss the aims of the trial including the role of residual herbicides in grassweed control and how herbicide stacks can potentially have an impact on crop vigour. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YJtKcswDmA 

REDUCED SEED RATE

An overview of the effect of a reduced seed rate on grassweed control, and how an extended stack of herbicides helps crops to outcompete weeds.

https://youtu.be/uPLeTjQqUH8 

HIGHER SEED RATE

As seeding rate increases from 75 seeds/m2 to 600 seeds/m2 so too does the level of grassweed control achieved. 

https://youtu.be/PTMZwrws2GA 

DELAYED DRILLING

A look at how delaying the drilling date reduces grassweed pressure, and how the combined effects of drilling date, seed rate and herbicide stack work together to reduce the number of viable blackgrass plants.

https://youtu.be/UkIyN7rtOH8 

THE ROLE OF CHLOROTOLURON (CTU)

Holly and John discuss the importance of using a sequence of herbicides such as pendimethalin and diflufenican to control grassweeds, plus the role of ADAMA’s unique active ingredient, chlorotoluron (CTU), to provide a broader spectrum of weed control.

https://youtu.be/gzWNpOYeDMQ 

TRIAL FINDINGS IN YEAR TWO

After two contrasting seasons, John outlines the findings of the trial in terms of the importance of using cultural controls alongside a suitable stack of herbicides to control grassweeds. 

https://youtu.be/kuUraHLlSfw 

BACK-TO-BASICS ADVICE

John Cussans provides some back-to-basics grassweed control advice and discusses why it is important to use an appropriate level of herbicide inputs. 

https://youtu.be/Irvu1fPP_OQ 

THIN CROPS IN LATE DRILLED PLOTS

Having looked at some of the trial’s later drilled crops which also received a lower seeding rate and a high dose of herbicides in a single application, John explains the importance of getting the right balance of cultural controls and applying herbicides in sequence.

https://youtu.be/uxMeHk5QLWY 

RYEGRASS CONTROL ADVICE

An overview of how the trial’s blackgrass findings are also relevant to the control of ryegrass in spring and autumn established crops.

https://youtu.be/o-n05-AJqyM 

 

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