New data from Corteva Agriscience has shown that farmers can achieve excellent levels of control of volunteer oats, if the issue is addressed in the autumn rather than in the spring.
Trials conducted over the past 12 months, using Corteva’s Broadway Star herbicide, show that where tame oats were treated in the autumn – when small – almost 100% control was achieved. The results from early and late-spring applications were much more variable.
“Volunteer oats can be more difficult to manage than wild oats and there is a more limited choice of products available that effectively control them,” says Corteva’s cereal herbicide product manager, Alister McRobbie.
“Broadway Star is a contact herbicide that needs active weed growth for best results, so warm moist conditions are essential for optimum performance, and conditions are good for that at the moment.
“Timing trials have also suggested best results occur when soil temperatures are 8°C or above at a 10cm depth,” Mr McRobbie added.
He also recommends that a conventional flat-fan nozzle is used for Broadway Star applications, with a 130 to 150 litres/ha water volume – to provide the best combination of droplet size and coverage.
“But you can go down to 100 litres/ha providing the crop or weed density is not too great,” he concludes.
