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Reasons For Poor Weed Control Results

26/1/2011

Below are a few main points from a presentation Dix presented to Komatiland (Wilgeboom Field Day) in October 2010. The presentation was about why Weed Control and Weed Control Programmes sometimes fail to produce the desired results.

Why do spraying, or other weed control methods, sometimes have poor results?
- Weather conditions: Rain – Watch for rainfastness on the label.
                                  Low temperatures
                                  Wind drift
- Inactive Weed growth. Weeds under stress.
- Stage of Weed Growth: Insufficient foliage
                                      Weeds to large
                                      Insufficient germination
- Wrong Product: Does not control specie
                             Resistance
- Product not used correctly: Failure to read the label
                                                Failure to follow recommendations /instructions
- Incorrect Application Rates: Wrong Mixtures
                                                Incorrect Calibration
                                                Incorrect water volumes
- Incorrect application method
- Incorrect application equipment

Why do weed control programmes sometimes fail to produce the desired results?
- Inadequate planning
- Herbicide: Incorrect choice
                    Incorrect usage due to
                                 a. failure to read the label
                                 b. failure to follow recommendations
                                 c. insufficient product knowledge
- Poor Timing
- Poor Budgeting
- Lack of Follow-up
- Inadequate resources: Incorrect Equipment
                                         Equipment faulty or in poor condition
                                         Insufficient labour, equipment & transport
- Incorrect Application
- Poor selection of operators or contractor.
- Untrained supervisors and operators.
- Inadequate supervision
- No Report back: On Results
                              On progress
                              On costs
                              On problems being experienced
- NO FOLLOW-UP
- Lack of commitment and/or lack of interest

Avoid weed resistance by following the label recommendations. Do not try “Cost Savings” by reducing product and/or water rates

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Contact us if you are interested in more information.

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Correct Mixing & Application of Herbicides

24/1/2011

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We had a request to add simplified information on this site about the mixing and application ratios for herbicides? Unfortunately is this a very difficult subject to generalise.

There are many factors to consider when deciding on a mixture and application rate. Some of the factors are the plant species to be sprayed or treated, variety of plants in the same area, the stages of growth, the density of the targeted species, and the water/mixture per ha sprayed (calibration).

As an example: Bugweed needs a very low mixture at medium volumes. Bramble needs a high mixture at high volumes (very wet). If you spray bugweed with a "too strong" mixture, the leaves will burn and fall off. The plant will look dead for a while, but soon it will re sprout and form new shoots. It will look as if you gave it fertilizer. So you can see the complexity of mixtures if you have an area with Bugweed and Bramble.

So unfortunately it is not so easy to make general suggestions. We normally suggest to anyone spraying that label recommendations must be followed. However, should a difficult or unclear situation occur, is Dix available to evaluate any requirements/situations and make appropriate recommendations.

Share your thoughts and experiences on this subject.
Contact Dix

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Bramble Threat

21/1/2011

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We had an interesting discussion with the people of a Nature Reserve nearby about the Bramble threat.

Brambles are thorny plants of the genus Rubus, with about 250 species. There are 17 species recorded from southern Africa, some indigenous and others naturalised. The Bramble fruit include the blackberry and rasberry.

Bramble bushes have a distinctive growth form. They send up long, arching canes that do not flower or set fruit until the second year of growth. Many types of brambles bear edible fruit, and many have recurved thorns that dig into clothing and flesh when the victim tries to pull away from them. Some types also have hair-like thorns.

Species are pioneers of open and disturbed habitats. Berries are eaten by birds which enables seeds to be dispersed widely. Plants are able to spread vegetatively by sending out sucker shoots, and rooting where branches (canes) contact the ground. Thorns along the branches make movement through these bushes very difficult. With these sorts of properties it is no wonder that some Rubus species have become weeds. They are a big problem in many areas now. It is the opinion of many that Brambles will become a threat of major proportions if we do not take the control thereof very seriously.
Contact us for more information on how to control Bramble.

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How does Bush Encroachment influence the economy?

17/1/2011

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Bush encroachment is the suppression of palatable grasses and herbs by encroaching woody species often unpalatable to domestic livestock. Therefore, bush encroachment reduces the carrying capacity for livestock. The reduction in carrying capacity is of great significance because savannas in southern and central Africa contain a large and rapidly growing proportion of the world’s human population, including many pastoralists whose livelihood is threatened by this process. (D Ward, University of Stellenbosch)
Bush encroachment thus affects the agricultural productivity and biodiversity

A study was done in Uganda to determine the affects of bush encroachment on livestock farming.
Results indicated that cleared farms had higher herbage dry matter, Heifers on these cleared farms reached puberty earlier, had a higher calving rate, yield higher milk, and had better body conditions. The annual cross income per cow on cleared farms was higher then those on bushy farms. Cleared farms were thus more profitable then bushy farms.
To read more about this study, visit Economic Implications of Bush Encroachment.

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Reasons For Poor Weed Control Results

Correct Mixing & Application of Herbicides

Bramble Threat

How does Bush Encroachment influence the economy?

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