Brazil: Cropchem receives unprecedented registration for Nicosulfuron in soybean pre-planting

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

Cropchem recently obtained an unprecedented registration for Nicosulfuron for application during the pre-planting of soybeans. The herbicide has been used for many years in Brazil and worldwide, but it was previously only allowed to be used to control weeds during the post-emergence of corn.

Studies carried out at three agronomic research institutes attested to the product's efficiency for this purpose, enabling the company to file the registration request with regulatory agencies, which was obtained this second semester. During tests on soybeans, the active ingredient showed good control of grasses, such as ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), bitter grass (Digitaria insularis) and burro-tail grass (Andropogon bicornis).

“In the South Region, the resistance of various species to glyphosate has only increased in recent years and producers have found it difficult to find viable tools for this type of management, either due to high investment value or efficiency,” explained Rodrigo Leão (Manager of Cropchem). “We are working to find a more accessible alternative for producers during the management stage, which is key to the good performance of crops.”

With the increase in resistance to glyphosate, the most used desiccant in the world , many producers have sought other options for the management of grasses in the pre-sowing of soybeans. A popular option is a mixture of glyphosate and ACCase inhibitors, such as cletodim and haloxifop, or a combination in sequential application of this mixture with paraquat, a product that was recently banned, as determined by Anvisa.

According to Mario Bianchi (Researcher at CCGL), Nicosulfuron can be useful to control young ryegrass plants during the "early sowing" carried out in the South Region in the second half of October. "For this planting in Rio Grande do Sul, desiccation is done from late September to early October. The sooner the soybean is planted, ryegrass control becomes more important. Using an ALS inhibitor during this step, such as Nicosulfuron, it can be an alternative within a control system," he said.

The ryegrass in RS is widely used in winter as pasture within the crop and livestock integration system. However, if it is not properly controlled before summer planting, the plant, like other grasses, competes with soy for water and nutrients, which can cause significant productivity losses.