SIGMA AGRO's new herbicide terbuthylazine, an alternative to atrazine launched in Argentina

During the Expoagro 2022 fair, the largest open-air agro-industrial exhibition in Argentina, local company SIGMA AGRO announced the launch of its pre-emergent herbicide, Terbutilazina SIGMA (terbuthylazine).

The new solution aims to position itself as an alternative to atrazine and is formulated within a 50% concentrated suspension. According to the manufacturer, its “great flexibility allows it to be used in pre-emergence situations for cereals, cotton, peanuts and cover crops, among others.”

“Backing up its efficiency with a series of trials carried out on various crops, such as soybeans, corn, cotton and wheat, applications of Terbutilazina SIGMA have shown, in combination with other active ingredients, the highest rates of control during pre-emergence," said SIGMA AGRO.

The product has characteristics that can position it as an alternative for combating problematic weeds and in cases of the appearance of resistance. For example, its SC formulation offers excellent compatibility in mixtures, mainly oriented to its combination with other active ingredients depending on the specific situation of the batch.

Added to such mixtures, it has a lower leaching and a high adsorption coefficient, anchoring the product to the soil after application and, therefore, preventing heavy rains from washing away the product, achieving both greater persistence and greater residuality.

Important environmental benefits are linked to this feature, such as preventing the compound from reaching the water table. Its half-life is 100 days, which is how long it takes for 50% of the product to degrade. Terbutylazina SIGMA is a highly photostable product, enabling it to remain in the soil until diluted by rains.

In addition, due to its formulation, it is easily incorporated into the soil with little rainfall, a key factor during campaigns with below-normal rainfall conditions.

Another feature is its versatility of use, since it has a wide registry that allows it to be applied on a large number of crops throughout the year, in line with the recommendations indicated on the label.

A total of 34 trials were carried out during the 21/22 campaign, when the product was applied to different crops in various areas, achieving excellent results and efficient control of both problematic broadleaf weeds and resistant weeds.

In corn, the combination of terbuthylazine + flumioxazin (PPO) showed the highest control rate against Amaranthus, due to a synergism effect, burning effect, greater control spectrum, and greater residuality. For a greater spectrum of control, it is possible to add a chloroacetamide, such as S-metolachlor, demonstrating effective control aginst both broad-leaf and narrow-leaf weeds.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)