January 2019 - 5

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
from the Publishers of
Spudman Magazine
Early Season
Potato Herbicide
Considerations
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Weeds are a grower's enemy, so
tackling them head on early in the
season can make a world of difference
later. Because there are a limited
number of post-emergence broadleaf
herbicides available for use in potatoes,
using herbicides before the crop
emerges is the best approach to ensure
adequate protection of growers' fields
from aggressive nightshade and other
broadleaf weeds.
By using herbicide products with
residual activity during pre-emergence,
potato growers can ensure that the
emerging crop is protected from weed
competition. Failing to do so can
lead to aggressive broadleaf weed
escapes that are hard to control. When
developing a potato weed control plan,
utilizing a single herbicide to control
weeds isn't ideal, so growers should
work with their local representative to
determine which herbicides will work
best for their operation.
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" Unfortunately, there is no single
product that will control every weed.
Growers typically need to apply a
mixture of two to four products to
get broad-spectrum weed control.
There are a limited number of
herbicides registered for use in
potatoes, so it is very important to
practice crop rotation and other
resistance management techniques
to protect these chemistries. They
should also be aware of the weed
species in the area to ensure the correct
products and approaches are used, "
said Curtis Rainbolt, Technical Service
Representative at BASF. Rainbolt
recommends rotating potatoes with
wheat, corn or other grass crops to help
control perennial broadleaf weeds.
What else does Rainbolt
recommend?
To best control weeds in young potato
plants, products such as Prowl®
H2O
herbicide and Outlook®
herbicide
should be applied pre-emergence for
residual control of emerging weeds.
If growers miss the pre-emergence
window, Outlook herbicide can no
longer be applied, but Prowl H2O
herbicide can be applied up until the
potato plants are 6 inches tall. While
Prowl H2O herbicide can be applied
to the potato crop at this stage, it is
important to note that it will not control
already emerged weeds. Ideally, growers
should not cultivate after they apply
residual herbicides since disturbing the
soil can reduce efficacy or render the
residual product ineffective.
Incorporation and activation prior to
weed emergence is another key to
success with residual herbicides. " With
center pivot irrigation, growers can
use water to incorporate the herbicide
application. If growers have very sandy
fields, they may want to steer away from
a product with high water solubility, "
said Rainbolt. " As with any product,
growers should be sure to read the label
carefully to determine if the chemistry is
the right fit for their fields. "
By timing application appropriately
and with an adequate amount of water
to activate the product, growers can
effectively control nightshade and
other broadleaf weeds for a stronger
start to the growing season. As with
any weed management program,
always be sure to consult with your
local representative for the correct
application information.
For more information, visit www.GrowSmartPotatoes.com
or contact your local BASF representative.
Always read and follow label directions. Outlook and Prowl are registered trademarks of BASF.
© 2019 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.
ADVERTISEMENT | © 2019 BASF Corporation
Spudman * January 2019
5

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January 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2019