A non-selective residual herbicide for broad-spectrum weed control around farmyard buildings, gravel drives, tracks and static machinery, has been launched in the UK.
Chikara, from Cambridgeshire-based Belchim Crop Protection, contains 25% flazasulfuron – a new active ingredient to this country – and is described as a ‘total control’ weed killer that will provide a replacement for herbicides diuron and dichlobenil, which have both failed to achieve Annex 1 listing.
The new product comes in a water dispersible granular format in 50g containers. Recommended application rates are 150g per hectare (equivalent to 37.5g ai/ha) in 200-600 litres of water.
Belchim’s product development and marketing manager, Simon Leak says applying Chikara on its own at pre-emergence is the ideal timing for maximum weed control efficacy. “For control of broad-leaved weeds and grasses then pre-em is best with a mid-February to April optimum timing. After that date, and for post-em applications, then Chikara should be tank mixed with glyphosate.”
Mr Leak says Chikara does contain post-em activity but once weed root systems become established, then efficacy is diminished and glyphosate needed to be added for control of the complete weed spectrum. The combination providing strong contact activity with the long-term residual effect of flazasulfuron.
"Growers will have tank mixed diuron with glyphosate in the past so it won’t be a huge departure from what they have been doing, now that diuron has been revoked,” says Mr Leak. “Chikara is at least equal to the performance of diuron but offers up to five months residual activity,” he adds.
One application of Chikara is permitted per year and only on land ‘not intended for vegetation’. Mr Leak says: “Ideally, it is suited for weed control around farm buildings, fence posts, on gravel paths, and where machinery is standing about in the nettles for example. It can’t be used on hard surfaces in case of a risk of run-off.”
Classified as safe for bees, fish, birds and beneficial to insects, Chikara is labelled as toxic to aquatic plants and comes with a LERAP B rating and a 1m buffer zone requirement when used with a knapsack sprayer.
Chikara should be applied as medium spray quality when applied with a knapsack sprayer, and 5g of product in 20 litres of water will cover a 333/sq.m area.
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