Content:
To obtain a high yield, modern farmers use various chemicals: herbicides, pesticides, etc. The herbicide is designed to kill weeds, and the pesticide is to eliminate pests and control various plant diseases.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Herbicide Spraying
Potato weed killers used as remedies have their pros and cons.
The pluses include:
- quick cleaning of the garden from weeds;
- minimum labor costs;
- exclusion of the possibility of damage to the bush during processing of the site.
Cons of using chemical protection:
- penetration of toxic substances into the potato tuber;
- Soil pollution.
Herbicide classification
Potato herbicides
Weed remedies on potatoes are divided into preparations of continuous and selective action.
Solid - designed to destroy all plants on the site. Selective - they act selectively, that is, these substances are harmless to cultivated plants.
Continuous herbicides include: Zenkor, Roundup, Hurricane, etc., selective - Titus, Lazurite, etc.
A solid preparation is used in autumn or spring, before planting potatoes, less often after planting. With its help, very weedy areas are sprayed.
Selective preparations are used when performing chemical weeding of potatoes. With their help, the garden is processed after the emergence of shoots.
In turn, selective pesticides are divided into substances with a wide and a narrow spectrum of action. The first type is designed to remove several types of weeds, and a narrow action - to one specific type.
If an area is sprayed on which there are no potato shoots yet, then solid or pre-emergence substances are used.
Zenkor and Roundup are among the most frequently used pesticides against weeds by gardeners during this period.
Zenkor
It belongs to the group of selective systemic herbicides. It is produced in the form of granules, which are dissolved in water before use. Perfectly destroys ape, ragweed, shepherd's bag, sow thistle, etc.
Zenkor
The main active ingredient is metribuzin.
Advantages:
- long period of action (up to several weeks);
- weeds do not acquire immunity to the drug;
- it combines well with pesticides, so you can treat the potato area with one solution containing both Zenkor and pesticides;
- not dangerous for humans and insects.
It is not recommended to use the herbicide when growing the following potato varieties: Alena, Ariel, Bellarosa, Skylark, Karatop, Riviera.
If you exceed the dosage of the solution, then yellowing of the leaves or chlorosis may occur.
Potatoes with chlorosis
The principle of action of Zenkora is that it stops the action of photosynthesis in the weed, and the plant dies.
For a better effect on weeds, the soil should be well moistened before processing. Thus, the drug gets into the grass faster.
The onset of action of the drug can be seen after about a week. In rainy weather, the result will be noticeable earlier than during drought.
Terms of use of the drug
The processing is considered to be done correctly if the surface of the ground is moistened at least 2 cm in depth.
To prepare the solution, take 5-15 g of herbicide per 5 liters of water. Complete dissolution of the granules occurs within half an hour.
Pre-emergence spraying is performed 2-3 days before the first shoots appear.
If the soil is sandy or black earth, then the minimum dosage is used, in areas with heavy soil - the maximum.
Consumption rates of the drug Zenkor
| Soil type | Consumption rate |
|---|---|
| Pre-emergence treatment | |
| light (sandy or black soil) | 0.6 l / ha |
| medium (podzolic) | 0.75 l / ha |
| heavy (clay) | 1.2 l / ha |
| Post-germination treatment | |
| light (sandy or black soil) | 0.5 l / ha |
| medium (podzolic) | 0.6 l / ha |
| heavy (clay) | 0.8 l / ha |
Lapis lazuli
Refers to systemic herbicides of the selective type of action. That is, when using it, cultivated plants are not damaged.
Advantages:
- has proven itself well in the fight against cereal and annual dicotyledonous weeds;
- does not accumulate in the ground;
- can be used to spray the site together with other herbicides and pesticides, in this case, the weed area is alternately treated with different pesticides;
- excellent value for money;
- long term protection of the treated area (1-2 months);
- fast preparation of working solution;
- can be freely purchased in specialized stores in any region of the country, be it Moscow, Tver or another city.
Potato lapis lazuli can be used both in pre-emergence treatment and after emergence.
With pre-emergence application, weeds are destroyed during germination, with treatment with herbicide for potatoes after germination - after 10-20 days.
The active ingredient is metribuzin. The principle of action of this substance is the same as in the Zenkor preparation: the destruction of weeds occurs due to the violation of photosynthesis in plants.
Release form - powder.
Lapis lazuli
Processing rules
A good effect is achieved when using the poison against weeds, which are 3-4 weeks old.
The consumption rates of Lazurite solution from grass in the area with potatoes are presented in the table.
Treatment of the site with Lazurit
| Spraying time | Consumption rates | Number of treatments |
|---|---|---|
| pre-emergence treatment | 0.7-1.4kg / ha | 1 |
| pre-emergence treatment, followed by spraying during the period when the height of the tops is 5 cm | 0.5-1kg / ha | 2 |
| spraying weeds with a potato tops height of 5 cm | 0,7-0,8 | 1 |
The instructions for the use of Lazurite for potatoes stipulate that the maximum dosage is used if the area on which the potatoes grow has heavy soil. For light soil, the minimum doses of the drug are used.
It is not recommended to use the drug on the site:
- very humid;
- very dry;
- with damaged potato tops.
During pre-emergence treatment, it is important that the potato tuber is well buried in the ground.
Also, one should not think that Lazurite is a fertilizer for potatoes, and only treatment with this preparation guarantees high yields. If the soil does not have enough nutrients, then removing weeds will not greatly affect the yield of the crop.
Titus
It is a systemic herbicide with the active ingredient rimsulfuron.
It is used in post-emergence treatment for the destruction of perennial cereals, as well as annual and perennial dicotyledonous weeds.
The drug is exposed immediately after it enters the plant. The initial signs of exposure are visible within 5-7 days.
The concentration depends on the weediness of the area and on the type of weeds.
Titus
For correct use, you must study the instructions supplied with the drug.
The use of herbicides will quickly and without time and labor costs rid the garden of unwanted weeds. However, in order not to harm the potatoes themselves, it is necessary to carefully study the instructions for the preparation before use.
