Elders agronomist gives thumbs up to Mateno Complete Herbicide

The site was sown with a knifepoint/presswheel system to Rockstar wheat at the end of May following a rainfall event of 11 mm. It then remained dry until further rain in mid June.

Mateno Complete was applied IBS alongside other pre-emergent herbicides. It was also applied EPE at two different timings, when annual ryegrass was at one to two-leaf and later at four to five-leaf stage.

Jason said due to the dry start, there was reduced activation of the pre-emergent herbicides applied, which compromised weed control at the IBS timing. The EPE timing at the one to two-leaf ryegrass growth stage provided much better control.

“Based on the trials I have seen, the EPE application gives us some good ryegrass control into the back end of the season and also good in-furrow control,’’ Jason said.

“Quite often, our paddocks can get waterlogged and lose crop competition and the ryegrass can take over in those waterlogged areas. Getting extra length of control in the August period with a product like Mateno Complete will help prevent those blowouts.’’

He said the flexible timing of application with the herbicide was a key benefit.

“If it’s a dry start, we can possibly delay Mateno Complete application and incorporate other pre-emergent herbicides, whereas if we have good soil moisture conditions, we have got the option of Mateno Complete or other herbicides to help rotate the groups that we are using.’’

“We have fortunately had several new modes of action come to market in the pre-emergent space and Mateno Complete will help to rotate those groups and use them in different crops, helping to prevent the onset of resistant ryegrass.’’

Jason said the diflufenican component of Mateno Complete added further value by preventing broadleaf weed germinations. He said another nearby trial of the herbicide had shown good broadleaf weed control.

IBS applications of Mateno Complete in wheat and barley offer a high level of control of annual ryegrass, barley grass, silver grass and toad rush and in wheat only, control of annual Phalaris and suppression of wild oats, great brome and capeweed. EPE applications in wheat provide control of small silver grass, toad rush, wild radish, capeweed and prickly lettuce and suppression of annual ryegrass, barley grass and doublegee/spiny emex.