Fleabane

MOREE 2005

Fleabane & Difficult Weed Forum .

(Kindly supported by Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA,
B&W Rural, McGregor Gourlay & Landmark)

1) Fleabane (Coyza spp)
2) Marshmallow
3) Buckwheat
4) Malvestrum
5) Milksthistle
6) Button/Barnyard grass
7) Marigold
8) Peachvine
9) Wandering Dew
10) Saltbush
11) Deadnettle
12) Dwarf nettle
13) Polymeria
14) Nutgrass
15) General grass weeds
* Weeds in order of importance. Bold were discussed in detail on the day and the summary listed below.

Fleabane

Successes

• Atrazine has been used to reduce the plant population
• 20g Glean
• Several applications of 1-2L Atrazine in long fallows.
• 800ml Ester + 2kg Atrazine
• Use Atrazine before germination
• 10L Diesel + 500ml Garlon with 100L water followed by a 2L/ha Sprayseed application gave 100% kill on mature plants
• 1.6L Roundup + 80ml Garlon followed by 2L/ha Sprayseed application gave 90% kill on mature plants.
    • Questioned whether 90% control was effective.
• 1.5L Spray seed using 100L water
• 1.25-1.5L Surpass + 1.5L Roundup + Ammonium Sulphate
• 1.25L Surpass + 1.5L PowerMax + 25g Glean in 100L of water
•1.5L Roundup + 800ml Ester + Ammonium Sulphate.
• Using Sprayseed after Roundup or Garlon as a following spray works well.

Failures

• Variability in treatments due to climate changes, different growth stages
• Misses in crop sprays results in population increases which are “tougher” and more difficult to kill.
• 1L Amine + 2kg Atrazine
• 15g Ally + 1.5L Roundup (Yes these rates are correct- trial double rate) on elongated plants.

Management

• In the harder country there are only 1-3 spray opportunities a year. So it is more important to get a good kill rather than just suppression until fallow.
• Have found that is easy to control the summer germinating plants but those germinating in May are being left whereby they become difficult to kill with maturity.
• The escapes tend to be tougher to kill after subsequent sprays
• Different growth stages result in different leaf structures and therefore differences in uptake of chemical. This needs to be considered as a potential reason for variability in treatments.
• When using Sprayseed, coverage is critical. 100L of water is suggested.
• Garlon and Roundup often just cause wilting and suppression of growth in Fleabane but not death. Sprayseed as a follow on spray can cause death.
• Use a combination of chemicals in subsequent sprays rather than rely on 1-2 high dose sprays.

Marshmallow

Successes

• 20g Glean
• 150ml Affinity
• 1.5L Roundup + 80ml Hammer
• 1.5L Roundup + 75-100ml Goal
• 200g Hussar in crop in 70L of Water

Failures

• 750ml Starane + 1.5L Roundup
• 1.5L Roundup + 75-100ml Goal

Management

• Weather plays an important part in control.
    • In a wet season = > spray early.
    • In a dry season = > spray later.
• Water quality is also important.
    • Have a good idea about the quality of the water you are using including NaCl quantities (ppm) and harshness.
    • Choose water rates carefully and have an appropriate nozzle size for the chemical and water rate chosen.
• Ensure that spray contractors/operators are competent in spraying.

Buckwheat

Successes

In crop

• 20g Glean with 70L water
• 800ml Tordon 242 + 5g Ally + Wetter
• 750ml Starane + 5g Ally
• 1.5L MCPA (Bromocide MA) with 70L Water
• 40g Harmony M + 700ml MCPA LVE
• 1.5L Roundup + 25g Express

In Fallow

• 1.5L Roundup +25g Express
• 1.8L R/U PowerMax with 70L water for up to 8 leaf plants
• 500g Diuron + 1.5L Roundup
• 115-300g Cadance (lower rate will do a reasonable job)
• 1.4L R/U PowerMax
• 1.2L R/Up PowerMax + 800ml Surpass for up to 12 leaf plants
• 1.2L Roundup + 5g Ally (black soils)
• 2 double knock application
    • 1.5L Roundup
    • 1kg Flammable Atrazine (Can be taken into a winter crop)

Failures

• 1.2L Roundup + 5g Ally on red soil
• 115g Cadence on red soil.

Management

• Express can be used in crop or fallow even when going into Sorghum
• Buckwheat grows all year round
• Rotations are important and there may be an option to change rotation to gain control of the weed.
• Tordon can flatten some crops. It will come back but with a slight yield penalty.
• Harmony M can also have an impact on the crop with some impact on yield.
• Adding 700ml MCPA LVE softens it.
• Atrazine is also effective but requires the rainfall.

Application and Nozzles

• Weather conditions
    • Delta T
• Nozzles
    • Beware of Inversion during winter using fine nozzles
    • Be aware of the changing technology, use nozzles suitable to the capability of your pump and machinery.
    • Standard nozzles are out of date.
    • Medium to Course nozzles are more acceptable
During summer it is more important to get the chemical into the crop.
        • Drift can be a big problem for Native Vegetation and other crops
• Water
    • When using increased water rates (in excess of 70L) use dual lines
• Dual/Merging
    • Air induction is good but the pressure can drop
• Pump
    • Pick the pump appropriate for the nozzle and vice versa
• Machinery
    • Too many people accept the standard which does not fulfil their needs
    • Be critical about the technology you are buying and ask it’s capabilities in delivering what you need

Chemical Use

• Mix chemicals according to the labels.
• Adjuvants, buffers and softeners usually go in last.
• Ammonium sulphate should be mixed in a bucket first then added to tank.
    • Buy high quality, fine (NH4)2SO4
• Be aware of chemical antagonisms
    • 24-D Ester and Roundup

Nozzles