Final chance to banish wild oats from cereal crops
Before the early booting stage (GS41) is the latest practical timing for the control of wild oats in winter wheat, with the inclusion of a suitable herbicide such as TOPIK® (240 g/L clodinafop-propargyl and 60 g/L cloquintocet-mexyl) in T2 tank mixes a good way of applying one final layer of weed control.
TOPIK® is compatible with many mainstream fungicides, but some herbicide modes of action are not biologically compatible: while TOPIK® can be tank mixed with listed ALS Inhibitors, it should only be used at the full rate of 125ml/ha plus oil. DO NOT mix reduced rate TOPIK® with an SU, and don’t use TOPIK® in mixture with hormone herbicides – instead, wait 14 days from the application of a hormone herbicide before using TOPIK® , or seven days after applying TOPIK® before using a hormone herbicide.
The risk of resistance
Like many other weeds, the two main species of wild oats, Avena fatua and Avena ludoviciana (sterile oat) have developed varying degrees of resistance to a range of herbicide active ingredients.
Thankfully, this resistance is developing relatively slowly, but it is important to reduce the threat of further resistance by using a rotation of herbicide modes of action (ACCase inhibitors such as clodinafop and cycloxydim, fenoxaprop and pinoxaden and ALS inhibitors such as mesosulfuron).
The power of TOPIK: treated (left) vs. untreated (right).
TOPIK® (240 g/L clodinafop-propargyl & 60 g/L cloquintocet-mexyl) is an effective option against both species of wild oat, but with a system of high pressure predicted to dominate for the next few weeks and wetter weather still some distance away, it is essential that any treatments are applied in line with the following best practice guidelines:
- 1. Use an appropriate volume of water: beyond GS31 at least 200l/ha should be used.
- 2. Apply TOPIK® during good growing conditions for the target weed as this will improve product uptake.
- 3. Spray slowly (maximum 12pkh) and at a sensible boom height (50cm above the canopy)
- 4. Select a nozzle type and angle to target weeds beneath the crop canopy.
Reducing sprayer forward speed from 16kph down to 12kph helps to maximise wild oat control.
(Photo credit: Syngenta forward speed trial on TOPIK)
TOPIK® (240 g/L clodinafop-propargyl and 60 g/L cloquintocet-mexyl)
Controls wild oats, rough meadow-grass and gives moderate control of Italian rye-grass in wheat, durum wheat and triticale.
Optimum timing:
Wild-oats from 1 leaf unfolded up to flag leaf ligule visible.
Application rates:
0.25//ha
0.125//ha plus a suitable adjuvant (e.g. methylated seed oil)
Optimum weed control is best achieved when all the wild-oats have emerged and are actively growing in good conditions. More information here.
