To achieve high productivity in growing crops, it is required not only to feed them in time with fertilizers, but also to provide for the reliable protection against weeds. In the large household scale, it is practically impossible to do it manually. Therefore, chemical protection agents - herbicides come to the aid of the agrarians.
Herbicides are non-toxic to the cultivated plants and provide for a high efficiency. However, the effectiveness of applying them depends on the influence of external factors. These factors include: soil type, organic matter content and weather conditions.
After introducing the herbicide into the soil, its active substances are absorbed by the root system of weeds. This leads to the suppression of the weed development and their death. However, the activity of protectants in the soil is not always the same, as it depends on the fertile layer structure. The lighter the soil is, the less will be the herbicide consumption.
It is not recommended to apply a herbicide prior to seeding on the light soils with humus content of less than 1%. Such a soil has a low absorption capacity, therefore, the chemicals in it are more active on grain crops. In soils with humus content of more than 5-6% (especially, in the peaty soils) herbicides can be absorbed, and therefore it is required to increase the amount of them to be supplied.
Applying herbicides prior to the seed formation is recommended under the following conditions: the soil in the seed planting area is dense, and the planting depth is even and optimum.
If the seeds are planted in the soil at different levels or at insufficient depth, the herbicidal properties of the drug can inhibit the growth processes of cultivated crops.
As noted, climatic conditions also have a great influence on the effectiveness of herbicide application. At a sufficient level of humidity and elevated temperatures the herbicide breaks faster and is more easily absorbed by the root system of weeds.
If the herbicide is used after seed formation, then at this stage the composition and characteristics of the soil can be neglected to some extent. In this case, the herbicide acts through the leaves. Therefore, the herbicide application shall be organized when the growth of weeds is at the peak of activity, the air temperature is higher than 10 ° C, and the humidity is high. However, at temperature above 23-25 °C the herbicides should not be applied in the afternoon, since there is a probability of their evaporation. It is better to postpone the application until the evening. Avoiding the use of the herbicide in rainy days is worth as well, because there is a risk of washing it out.
Care shall be taken to introduce herbicides in fields with underdeveloped crops, as well as ones with the cultures that have survived stress conditions. In this case, it is recommended to combine them with growth regulators. This will reduce stress and protect crops.
Therefore, the effectiveness of herbicides depends on a number of factors. However, the quality of the chemicals is one more important factor to consider. “Agromix” company offers efficient herbicides that reliably protect crops from harmful weeds and provide for the crop healthy development.
