SLEDGE LONG FALLOW HERBICIDE DEMONSTRATION Merriwagga NSW, November 2016 INDEPENDENT AGRONOMY ADVICE + CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH

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1 SLEDGE LONG FALLOW HERBICIDE DEMONSTRATION Merriwagga NSW, November 2016 INDEPENDENT AGRONOMY ADVICE + CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH

2 Sledge long fallow herbicide demonstration key points There is a heavy reliance on hormone based herbicides to assist glyphosate in controlling broadleaf weeds in fallows. These herbicides may build up in the soil or accumulate on stubble and may cause problems for following sensitive crops such as canola and legumes. There is a need for an alternative to group I herbicides as a spike to glyphosate to assist in controlling hard to kill broadleaf weeds. The use of a Group G herbicide provides a good alternative, lowering the risk associated with drift onto sensitive crops. Using group G herbicides also reduces the issues of hormones antagonising the efficacy of glyphosate, thus reducing the risk of the development of resistance in both grass and broadleaf weeds (eg: ryegrass and sowthistle). Sledge is a newly released EC formulation group G herbicide from Sipcam, that provides an alternate knockdown option to 2,4-D in fallows. It works very differently to Ecopar, an SC formualtion. In this demonstration, higher rates of Sledge proved to achieve a faster burn down of key weeds early, although did not affect the overall control of the weeds. background Long Fallow is a major part of the western cropping system to manage risk as well as clean up weedy paddocks and break from cereal crops. Long fallows can be challenging for farmers to keep clean, due to a variety of weeds persisting without competition. They also heavily rely on glyphosate to keep them clean, often applied at least 6 times during the fallow period. 2,4-D is a common fallow spike to glyphosate. With an increasing area of permanent plantings being developed and increased cotton area, the risk of drifting hormone based herbicides onto these sensitive crops and causing damage is a real risk. The risk of herbicide residues building up on lighter sandy soils with the use of 2,4-D is also high. Sledge (25 g/l paraflufen-ethyl) is a newly released group G herbicide from Sipcam, which is useful as a spike to glyphosate, to control hard to kill broadleaf weeds. It provides an alternate option to the use of 2,4-D on some weeds. trial details A demonstration was established in a long fallow paddock on Andy Nicholls farm near Merriwagga NSW in November 2016, in conjunction with Sipcam. The aim of this demonstration trial was to evaluate the use of Sipcam s new group G herbicide Sledge at various rates in conjunction with glyphosate and paraquat on key weeds found in long fallow paddocks in the western cropping region. 2

3 This is the second demonstration trial carried out on a long fallow in This one focusses more on young summer weeds such as fleabane, wireweed and paddy melon The paddock had been grazed heavily over the fallow period, and was quite bare. The weeds were small and relatively fresh when sprayed. The target weeds on the trial site were fleabane (Conzya bonariensis), wireweed (Polygonum aviculare), crumbweed (Dysphania pumilio), Australian bluebell (Wahlenbergia gracilis), skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and paddy melon (Cucumis myriocarpus), figure 1. The demonstration consisted of 11 treatments as shown in table 1. Figure1: Target weeds and size at time of treatment, 16 th November Fleabane Australian Bluebell Wireweed Skeleton Weed Crumbweed Field Bindweed Paddy Melon 3

4 The herbicide treatments were applied on 16 th of November at 11am, with 80L/ha water rate and mini drift nozzles. The environmental conditions at the time of application were 22 degc, 50% relative humidity, 15km/h winds and 0% cloud cover. Plots were not replicated and were 12m x 150m, figure 2. Observations were carried out throughout the trial, and consisted of a visual assessment of the percentage weed control of the key weed species at approximately 7, 14 and 28 days after treatment (DAT). A summary of those results is shown in tables 2 to 4 in the results section. A visual representation of each treatment is also shown from figures 3 to 14. Table 1: Treatment and product list for the Sledge herbicide demonstration Treatment TREATMENT No. 1 Untreated (for comparison) 2 100ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze + 1% Hasten 3 150ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze + 1% Hasten 4 200ml Sledge +1.2L Raze + 1% Hasten 5 17g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze + 1% Hasten 6 30g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze + 1% Hasten 7 30ml Hammer + 1.2L Raze + 1% Hasten 8 500ml Pyresta Xtreme + 1.2L Raze + 1% Hasten 9 1.2L Raze ml Sledge + 2L Gramoxone + 1% hasten ml Sledge + 2L Gramoxone + 1% hasten Products Sledge 25g/L paraflufen-ethyl Raze 510g/L Glyphosate Sharpen 700g/kg Saflufenacil Hammer 400g/L Carfentrazone-ethyl Pyresta Xtreme 2.1g/L pyraflufen-ethyl + 600g/L 2, 4-D Gramoxone 250g/L Paraquat Hasten Spray Adjuvent 4

5 Figure 2: Aerial photograph of the trial site, taken mid December 2016 (treatment 1 far left). Treatment 1 Treatment 11 results and discussion The site chosen for this trial was a paddock that was 11 months through an 18 month long fallow. The paddock had been grazed heavily through the winter, however the sheep had been out of the paddock for one month to allow weeds to freshen up before the paddock was sprayed out. The chemical application used in this trial was designed to control weeds present and to preserve moisture and nutrients for the preceding crop. The season was characterised by one of the wettest winter and spring periods on record. This helped maintain cool to mild conditions through much of the growing season. Winter active plants thrived in these conditions, however growth and development of many of the key weeds was slower than normal due to the lack of solar radiation and thermal exposure. The results of the demonstration showed differences in the level of control on all weeds. Higher rates of Sledge proved to achieve a faster burn down of key weeds in the early stages of the trial when applied with both Gramoxone and Raze, however didn t seem to affect the overall control of each treatment. Crumbweed was the only weed where higher rates of Sledge achieved greater control. Fleabane in this demonstration was hard to control, given that some had begun to elongate at the time of application. 7 DAT the glyphosate and Sharpen and Gramoxone and Sledge mixes gave a fast burn down on the fleabane, causing a high amount of leaf area loss. However at 28 DAT, the only treatments to gain control of fleabane were Pyresta Xtreme and glyphosate as well as the Gramoxone /Sledge mixes. This shows the importance of using group I chemistry when controlling small fleabane. Gramoxone and Sledge proved a stable substitute for glyphosate and a group I mix controlling the small fleabane equally as well in a single pass. Wireweed is another weed that is very hard to control in a long fallow situation. Hammer and glyphosate as well as Pyresta Xtreme and glyphosate provided the best level of control on wireweed, however were unable to gain total control. Crumbweed was the easiest weed to control in the demonstration. Higher rates of Sledge proved more effective on this weed when mixed with glyphosate. Pyresta Xtreme and glyphosate were also effective in controlling crumbweed, along with Sledge and Gramoxone mixes. 5

6 Table 2: Percent weed control approximately 7 Days After Treatment (DAT), 24 th November Treatment No. TREATMENT Fleabane Bluebell Crumbweed Wireweed Bindweed Skeleton weed Paddy melon Milk Thistle 1 Untreated 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 2 100ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze 20% 50% 40% 5% 80% 3 150ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze 40% 65% 60% 5% 90% 5% 4 200ml Sledge +1.2L Raze 40% 70% 70% 20% 90% 5 17g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze 80% 90% 40% 10% 90% 6 30g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze 80% 50% 40% 10% 80% 7 30ml Hammer + 1.2L Raze 60% 50% 60% 30% 60% 40% 40% 8 500ml Pyresta Xtreme + 1.2L Raze 80% 90% 80% 60% 80% 80% 9 1.2L Raze 20% 95% 70% 5% 30% 60% 30% 40% ml Sledge + 2L Gramoxone 60% 80% 90% 5% 60% 60% ml Sledge + 2L Gramoxone 90% 90% 90% 60% 70% 30% Table 3: Percent weed control approximately 14 Days After Treatment (DAT), 2 nd December Treatment No. TREATMENT Fleabane Bluebell Crumbweed Wireweed Skeleton weed Paddy melon Common Cudweed Jersey Cudweed 1 Untreated 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 2 100ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze 20% 20% 60% 10% 40% 30% 3 150ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze 20% 30% 60% 10% 50% 50% 20% 4 200ml Sledge +1.2L Raze 30% 30% 80% 10% 50% 20% 5 17g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze 20% 50% 50% 10% 40% 30% 6 30g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze 30% 50% 70% 10% 20% 30% 7 30ml Hammer + 1.2L Raze 40% 30% 40% 10% 20% 20% 8 500ml Pyresta Xtreme + 1.2L Raze 80% 50% 100% 70% 90% 100% 70% 20% 9 1.2L Raze 30% 40% 60% 10% 30% 20% ml Sledge + 2L Gramoxone 60% 90% 90% 40% 20% 20% ml Sledge + 2L Gramoxone 60% 80% 90% 10% 40% 20% 40% Table 4: Percent weed control approximately 28 Days After Treatment (DAT), 20 th December Treatment No. TREATMENT Fleabane Bluebell Crumbweed Wireweed Bindweed Skeleton weed Common Cudweed 1 Untreated 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 2 100ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze 0% 0% 50% 0% 0% 5% 3 150ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze 0% 60% 50% 0% 0% 20% 4 200ml Sledge +1.2L Raze 0% 20% 80% 0% 0% 20% 5 17g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze 0% 10% 40% 0% 0% 20% 6 30g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze 0% 20% 50% 0% 0% 20% 7 30ml Hammer + 1.2L Raze 0% 20% 60% 60% 50% 0% 30% 8 500ml Pyresta Xtreme + 1.2L Raze 100% 50% 100% 60% 0% 30% 9 1.2L Raze 0% 30% 50% 40% 0% 20% ml Sledge + 2L Gramoxone 100% 40% 100% 0% 0% 50% ml Sledge + 2L Gramoxone 100% 40% 100% 0% 0% 60% 6

7 Figure 3: Treatment 1 - Untreated, weed control 14 (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT Figure 4: Treatment 2-100ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze, weed control 7, (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT 7

8 Figure 5: Treatment 3-150ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze, weed control 7 (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT Figure 6: Treatment 4-200ml Sledge + 1.2L Raze, weed control 7 (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT 8

9 Figure 7: Treatment 5-17g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze, weed control 7 (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT Figure 8 Treatment 6-30g Sharpen + 1.2L Raze, weed control 7 (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT 9

10 Figure 9 Treatment 7-30ml Hammer + 1.2L Raze, weed control 7 (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT Figure 10 Treatment 8-500ml Pyresta Xtreme + 1.2L Raze, weed control 7 DAT (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT 10

11 Figure 11 Treatment 9-1.2L Raze, weed control 7 (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT Figure 12 Treatment ml Sledge +.2L Gramoxone, weed control 7, 14 and 28 DAT 11

12 Figure 13 Treatment ml Sledge +.2L Gramoxone, weed control 7 (top) and 28 (bottom) DAT Acknowledgements This trial was a collaboration between Ag Grow Agronomy and Research and Sipcam. Ag Grow Agronomy and Research would like to thank trial co-operator Andy Nicholls for hosting the trial, and also providing assistance with the management of the trial. Further contacts Albert Gorman Ag Grow Agronomist albert@aggrowagronomy.com.au Rachael Whitworth Ag Grow Research Manager rachael@aggrowagronomy.com.au Scott Golding NSW (south) Sales Manager, Sipcam sgolding@sipcam.com.au 12