CEREALS
Application of glyphosate pre harvest offers the best control for annual grasses, scutch grass and other perennial weeds. It is also useful as a harvest aid (mainly in barley) eg. even moisture content at harvest, reduced green grains. Glyphosate should be applied to cereal crops at or below 30% moisture content. Higher moisture content application can incur a yield penalty. Application rates will vary depending on the level of weed infestation within the crop. Use the simple (& practical) illustration below to assess if your crop ready for spraying or alternatively talk to any of our Drummonds team.
The Thumbnail test
Collect 20 grains from various areas in the crop (taken from the centre of each ear) carry out the following test : Press the thumbnail firmly into the grain; if the indentation holds on all the grains, the crop is ready for spraying.
This test applies to wheat, barley and oats.
The split grain test
Cut the grains in half to confirm moisture content. If 75% of the grains have a dark brown pigment strand in the crease, as illustrated, the grain has reached 30% moisture. If all the grains are marked, moisture is less than 30%.
This applies only to wheat.
The penduncle test.
When the penduncle, situated at the top of the stalk immediately below the ear, starts to lose its green colour and turns brown, the moisture level should be ideal for spraying.
This test applies to wheat and barley.