Cost of residuals is lower than the loss of not applying them, says Juan Caporicci, Herbicides Manager, FMC Argentina

Date:04-28-2020

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

Juan Caporicci, Manager of Herbicides at FMC Argentina, said that a common mistake involves not analyzing in detail the cost/benefit ratio that the use of residual herbicides has while formulating an agronomic strategy.

"Often, only the value of applying a certain amount of liters per hectare is evaluated, but the losses that one can save with the consumption of water and nutrients of the weeds are not quantified and are removed from the crop, affecting its performance," he explained.

For the specialist, it is an evaluation that becomes even more relevant in a difficult economic and climatic context such as the current one, with increased export taxes, during which many producers can think of reducing the use of inputs and technology. But during which, at the same time, the need to be even more efficient prevails.

"Whatever state the economy is in, we have to fight. You have to be careful: doing nothing is always much worse,” said Caporicci.

Regarding chemical treatments, the application of residual herbicides is one of the main weapons so that these invasive species do not occupy much territory. Caporicci suggested the use of Finesse, which is an ALS inhibitor that combines two active ingredients in the chemical family of sulfonylureas (chlorsulfuron and methyl metsulfuron). This is the tool recommended by FMC to avoid productive damage that later translates into economic damage.

"It is a herbicide that can be used both during pre-sowing of wheat and in a long fallow for soybeans, with very high effectiveness. It is very forceful in controlling weeds during both pre- and post-emergence," said Caporicci.

The ideal time of use is just after the soybean harvest has been completed and it is usually combined with other herbicides, such as glyphosate or 2,4-D, to “burn” weeds in case some are already present in the lots. “Being of residual action, the idea is that it reaches the ground well. If weeds are present, it is important to keep in mind that it can affect the efficacy and residuality of the treatment, as the recommended dose does not reach the ground,” added Caporicci.

With regard to the control spectrum, he said, “It works overwhelmingly in almost all the species that appear in winter; fundamentally, wide-leaf species such as black branch. In the case of grasses such as Lolium (ryegrass), we are developing a new product that will soon be launched in the market, with a new mode of action." He reminded that weed control is not something temporary, but long term and requires many weapons. In this case, the modes of action must be rotated.