Content
Growing corn in a small area or in the field requires some maintenance. One of the most important rules of agricultural technology in this case is the destruction weeds throughout the entire period of culture growth. With a large area of planting, manual weeding becomes impracticable, and here the corn herbicide comes to the aid of farmers.
What are herbicides and what are they for?
Herbicides are the name of a group of chemical reagents that are used in agriculture to destroy a particular vegetation. They are usually used in large cultivated areas where it is impossible to control weeds by hand. Treatment with special preparations allows you to quickly and effectively get rid of many types of foreign vegetation at once.
Herbicides have a different composition and, accordingly, in terms of effectiveness and field of application. Currently, about 300 types of chemical preparations have been developed and successfully introduced into the agricultural industry.
There is a generally accepted classification of herbicides according to their action:
- Continuous action - destroying everything that is currently growing on the site, including the crops themselves. They are suitable in order to free up the area for crops or to destroy particularly resistant types of weeds. On sown lands, they are used only after the harvest has already been harvested;
- Selective (selective) action - posing a threat only to certain categories of plants in areas with certain crops. Their use is possible at any time.
If we talk about the cultivation of corn fields, then just herbicides from the second group are suitable here, which will not harm the main plants.
Weed features
A farmer or gardener who uses corn herbicides on their plot should have a clear understanding of the weed varieties and their characteristics. This will greatly facilitate the selection of the appropriate drug.
When dealing with weeds, the following characteristics should be taken into account:
- not all weeds begin to develop at the same time: one part germinates in the spring, and the other appears during the summer and even at the beginning of autumn;
- there are annual grasses, which are enough to destroy once, and perennials, which, with incomplete destruction, can grow from year to year;
- weeds have different types of reproduction: some - with the help of a branched root system, which makes it almost impossible to remove them completely (loach, sow thistle), others - due to a large supply of seeds (rape, amaranth).
If you do not pay attention to the listed features of pest plants, you will have to resort to broad-spectrum herbicides.
What herbicides are suitable for processing corn
Corn is one of the most common agricultural crops. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and good yield indicators. At the same time, its crops are very susceptible to contamination by foreign harmful plants, which negatively affects the development of culture. Therefore, there are a significant number of herbicides suitable for corn that can help to cope with this problem.
The preparations used for the treatment of corn plantings are classified as selective herbicides and are divided into 2 groups:
- soil;
- postemergence.
The main active ingredient of such funds can be:
- dimethylamine salt (suitable for application on wet soil, and on dry soil may cause burns to the main crop);
- sulfonylurea (can be used at temperatures from 5 ° C, has a high selectivity, is effective against most perennial plants);
- acetochlor (effective mainly against annuals, has a long period of protection, acts in the upper layers of the soil);
- clopyralid (applied at an early stage of weed development and works well during the period of active growth, ineffective against the cruciferous family).
Popular corn herbicides
To choose a suitable preparation for corn, you should carefully study its description and application features.
Trimmer
It is a systemic drug. The main active ingredient is a sulfonylurea derivative.
Effective against most annuals and perennials of the dicotyledonous class. Treatment of corn with herbicide is carried out in the phase of up to 5 leaves.
It is produced in the form of granules, which must be diluted in water for use.
Quasar
It belongs to the group of post-emergence selective drugs. Has a systemic effect on all types of pests.
It features fast response and a long crop protection period.
It is produced in the form of a concentrated suspension.
Miranda
It is a postemergence broad-spectrum herbicide.
It is used in the growth phase of corn from 3 to 10 leaves. A derivative of sulfonylurea (nicosulfuron), it actively penetrates into weed cells, suppressing their division.
It is used only without additional active ingredients.
Aztec
Refers to a type of selective soil herbicide. The main active ingredient is acetochlor.
Shows high efficiency in the fight against perennials of the dicotyledonous class and cereals. Before applying the drug, the soil must be well moistened.
It guarantees the protection of crops for up to 2 months.
Titus
Belongs to post-emergence systemic herbicides based on rimsulfuron (sulfonylurea derivative).
It is used for spraying plants after germination. The first signs of exposure are noticeable as early as 5 days after treatment.
Prima
A potent preparation based on two active ingredients - florasuram and ethylhexyl ether.
Possesses high efficiency both in application after germination and at the stage of already developed plants. The first results are visible the very next day after treatment.
It is produced in the form of a concentrated suspension.
How to properly treat corn with herbicide
The rules for treating corn with special preparations directly depend on the type of the herbicide itself - whether the treatment is carried out before planting, after sowing, or already during the period of crop growth.
But still, a number of general recommendations for corn processing can be distinguished:
- before applying the chemical, you need to properly loosen the soil, otherwise seeds or parts of the weed root system may remain in the clods, which will not be affected by the drug, and they will germinate again;
- before applying the herbicide, you need to moisten the soil, since the preparations can dry it out;
- weather conditions affect the effectiveness of treatment, therefore, the introduction of herbicides during precipitation, with strong winds and low temperatures is undesirable;
- when processing before sprouts appear, care must be taken that the drug does not penetrate below the level of the seeds;
- when applying after germination, it is necessary to wait for 3 - 5 leaves;
- spraying on the leaves is highly effective, but only in the case of the simultaneous use of additional agents that improve the fixation of the solution on the leaves. Otherwise, most of the herbicide will not work;
- it must be remembered that some of the components of the drug can penetrate into the corn itself, so the last processing should be done no later than 1 month before harvesting the cobs.
Conclusion
Corn herbicide is an effective and reliable remedy for getting rid of weeds in your area. The correct choice of the product guarantees fast weed control and long-term protection against weeds.