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It's Back........... 

Available this season only from MAuk

Dicurane is back! 

Makhteshim Agan (UK) Limited is bringing back 'Dicurane' - the market leading chlorotoluron brand last sold in the early 1990's.

Dicurane 70SC is being revived specifically to give growers a value for money solution for Annual Meadow Grass and Black Grass control in cereals, in the absence of Isoproturon (IPU).

The legal cut off for use and stoage of IPU containing products is 30th June 2009, leaving the growers' armoury againsy grass weeds even smaller.  Chlorotoluron (CTU), the active ingredient contained in Dicurane 70SC is the logical alternative.

CTU and IPU are similar types of chemistry, with the same mode of action.  CTU is an established molecule with over 25 years of proven use against broadleaved weeds and annual meadow grass and will be available in 2009 and beyond. 

CTU & IPU are similar types of chemistry with the same mode of action

Annual Meadow Grass and Broadleaved Weeds

Where black-grass isn’t a major issue, IPU has traditionally been mixed with diflufenican, with the rate used adjusted to suit the annual meadow grass population.

Experts suggest that now, in this situation, the use of diflufenican will continue at current practice rates and that the IPU component will be replaced with chlorotoluron.

The optimum timing on light soils - in regions such as Scotland, West Midlands, Norfolk and Yorkshire - across both winter wheat and winter barley is early post-emergence – i.e. two to three true leaves of the crop.

And, by using rates of chlorotoluron from 1000g - 1500g, plus 0.1l/ha of Hurricane SC diflufenican, growers can gain cost-effective, proven weed control of annual meadow grass, poppy, speedwell, pansy, chickweed, nettle and groundsel (see table).

Trials also show that this mix of chlorotoluron and diflufenican will be as effective as IPU/diflufenican mixes such as Panther and Javelin, which are no longer available.

By switching from 1500g of active in IPU to 1500g of chlorotoluron growers can expect a similar level of control of these common weeds.

 Black-grass Situations

In many black-grass situations where there has been a need for a holding spray, IPU has been used early post-emergence, following the pre-emergence treatment, but before Atlantis applications.

Here it was cost-effective and an additional treatment to reduce the burden of black-grass and thus protect the Atlantis resistance situation for as long as possible.

The early post emergence timing also coincided nicely with the BYDV spray.  However, with IPU no longer available, the black-grass options narrow. 

While rates of pre-emergence treatments will go up and the timing and efficacy of this pre-em spray will become even more important, there is still a role for a black-grass holding spray.  Here, Dicurane 70SC is an ideal IPU substitute.

A third potential use for Dicurane 70SC is with flufenacet-based treatments at pre-emergence.  Adding in 2-3l/ha will top up the general broad-leaved weed control and help with grass weeds, providing another useful active.

Many will have forgotten that when Dicurane 70SC first came onto the market that this was a key use for the product.  Now, with a more flexible label usage than IPU, Dicurane 70SC can also be used as an alternative mode of action at this pre-em stage and ensure a better start to the weed control programme.

So, for continued, value for money, control of those weeds targeted by IPU, Use CTU

Variety Selection

With chlorotoluron an increasingly important weapon in the weed control armory, it is important to ensure that variety selection takes this into account.

Where there may be equally acceptable varieties, agronomically and in the marketplace, it may pay to select a CTU tolerant type in preference.

Check that the varieties you are growing are not susceptible to CTU

Certified seed sales suggest that 83% of the winter wheat area and 96% of the winter barley area this autumn will be tolerant to CTU and can safely be sprayed.

Use CTU, in the same way as you would use IPU

Trials suggest that early post emergence is the most effective timing, i.e. 2 - 3 true leaves of the weed.  At this stage weed roots are small and take up CTU locked in the top surface of the soil. 

Make sure the CTU you choose is safe

Not all formulations are the same.  Makhteshim Agan (UK) Limited  undertakes testing of its CTU products to ensure variety safety.