Technical
“Mechanical cultivation will make the infestation worse, with new plants regenerating from pieces of rhizome as small as 1cm”
controlling the weed. In practice, frequent cutting would take years to exhaust the rhizomes. Cutting of the spore-bearing shoots before sporulation also helps minimise new plants.
Mechanical cultivation will make the infestation worse, with new plants regenerating from pieces of rhizome as small as 1cm.
Choose your weapons
MCPA and 2,4,D give control of aerial shoots, but re-growth from rhizomes occurs the following year. The contact herbicide glufosinate ammonium is also claimed to give control. Sowing intervals need to be carefully observed with all these herbicides.
Control with Roundup ProBio
Thick layers of silica and wax make the cuticle very difficult to penetrate with herbicides, and the needle-like ‘branches’ present a very small area for interception of spray. This physical barrier, combined with a large area of underground storage organs, mean this weed is usually classed as resistant or only moderately susceptible to glyphosate.
To maximise control in areas where an alternative residual weed control is not possible, or where re-cropping of the area is planned, it may be necessary to use a non-residual, environmentally acceptable herbicide, and the following approaches will optimise control with Roundup:
Foliar spray
Use a modern formulation of Roundup, like Pro Bio with its superior wetters.
Wait until the vegetative shoots have reached maximum height (60cm) and opened out, usually July.
Bruise the stems lightly immediately before treatment. This will break the waxy layer and allow much better penetration of the glyphosate. To achieve this, small areas can be brushed with a stiff broom; field areas are best with a Cambridge roller. (The bruising must not
Rates and application methods
Foliar spray - knapsack
5l/ha, in 200litres of water per hectare
Conventional CDA Weed-wiping with hand held weed-wiper
+ Mixture B NF @ 2% spray volume
5l/ha in a minimum of 10 litres of water or carrier oil (200- 300 micron VMD)
1 part Roundup Pro Bio to 2 parts water - or paintbrush
Mankar
Neat Roundup ProBio up to 5l/ha
JK injection gun
2ml per stem use 10ml of a 20% solution
*Details on Mankar ULV applicators are available from,
http://www.pitchcare.com/shop/mankar-ulv- ultra-low-volume-sprayers/
index.html
be severe enough to break off the stems!)
Apply the highest rate of Roundup Pro Bio recommended - i.e. 10 l/ha in 100- 200 litres water, with a droplet size on the finer side of medium. In a knapsack, this rate is 50ml per litre of water sprayed to just before run-off.
Weedwiper
A weedwiper with one part Roundup Pro Bio to two parts water could also be used and the effect of wiping itself can help in the bruising process.
On small areas, or where the weed is encroaching amongst other desirable plants, the use of a weed wiping glove can also prove a very successful method of bruising and application at the same time.
Stem injection
Where the infestation is in a position where spraying is not practical, or to eliminate the last few stems after previous spray treatments, a stem injection method can be adopted. Although it is labour intensive, there may be situations where it is justified.
It is legal, under the general chemical thinning recommendation on the forestry approval for Roundup Pro Bio, to inject up to 2ml into each hollow stem using an injection tool or, alternatively, the stem could be cut at the first segment above the crown and the herbicide introduced using a spot gun or a medical syringe with no needle. As 2ml is a small amount, it is advisable to make a 20 percent solution and inject 10ml per stem.
Cut stems should be removed from grazing areas before stock are returned.
For more information visit the website:
www.monsanto-ag.co.uk contact the Technical Helpline on (01954) 717575 or e-mail
technical.helpline.uk@
monsanto.com
Horsetail - facts and superstition!
The plant has a long history of medicinal uses, although in 2009 the European Food Safety Authority issued a report assessing health claims, concluding that none could be substantiated!
Taken orally, Equisetum giganteum is widely used in South America as a diuretic to reduce swelling caused by excess fluid retention and for urinary infections, bladder and kidney disorders. It also contains silicon, which is why it is sometimes suggested as appropriate to sufferers from for brittle bone disorders.
Herbalists maintain that horsetail makes an excellent healing tea, and it can be added to soups, stews or cooked in a stir-fry!
The silica content means that the stems can be used for scouring metal and as fine sandpaper. Horsetail has also been called scouring rush as it was said to be used by milkmaids to clean milk pails!
Plants can also be used as a polish for brass, hardwood etc. The infused stem is said to be an effective fungicide against mildew, mint rust and blackspot on roses.
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014 PC 129
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