Forward thinking on annual broad-leaved weed control in sugar beet

as possible using formulated mixes

With the loss of key active substances such as desmedipham, and core weed control strategies having to be re-thought, it has never been more important to know your weed species and crop history.

Another important point to consider is that when growing spring break crops in rotation with sugar beet, it is extremely important to minimise seed return, especially as there is a limited range of herbicides for use for control post those particular crops.

Beets are included as members of the Amaranthaceae family which also include species such as quinoa, fat hen (Chenopodium album) and orache. Fat hen in particular can produce considerable numbers of viable seeds (up to 70,000 seeds per plant) so it is critical to pay particular attention to the control of these species; especially as it germinates over a long period of time, thus can cause signi cant yield loss if present in large numbers and control is not achieved early and e ectively.

UPL beet herbicides are the building blocks for e ective annual broad leaved weed control (ABLW), the company says. With products such as Betasana SC, Bettix Flo, Efeckt, Shiro, and Vivendi, the choice of tank mix partners can be chosen according to weeds present. There is also the consideration of a potential new EC formation being trialled by UPL, HBZ10, which contains active substances to be used post emergence of the beet crop.

In 2022, UPL UK conducted some trials in collaboration with the BBRO, which included the use of the coded product HBZ10. Its purposes were to focus on crop safety and obtaining information on the e cacy of a selection of tank mixes over a range of weed species. At a site in Cheal, the dominant weed was fat hen (see Fig 1).

With the economics of growing sugar beet in the UK always at the forefront of any grower's mind, consider the following key points when planning for your next beet crop:

• Know your weed population

• Start with as clean a seed bed

• Remember that rates of UPL beet products can be adjusted according to weed species present, size of weeds and weather conditions

• The use of ‘straights’ give exibility and possible cost savings but they will require more agronomic input than

• The choice of tank mix partners is exible and can be tailored according to weeds present

• The addition of an adjuvant from T2 onwards will be bene cial. In some situations, the inclusion of oil at T1 is also advisable, depending on crop growth stage. FG