Boosting maize output
Introduction
Maize is an important crop globally, grown in many countries and widely utilised for human consumption, animal feed and as an industrial raw material for both food and non-food uses. With growing demand, a major objective for maize growers is to increase yields. The challenges they face are many, including, and not least, climate change induced drought and stress, but also significant crop losses and yield reduction as a result of weed interference.
Certis Belchim has conducted trials in Africa, Europe, Turkey and the USA with its new solution, Botiga®, a post-emergence selective foliar herbicide for weed control in maize. Excellent results were recorded, comparing favourably to current treatments against a broad spectrum of broad-leaved weeds and grasses. Active ingredients of Botiga are pyridate + mesotrione (concentration 300 + 90 gr/kg) in an oil dispersible (OD) formulation.
How it works?
The two active ingredients have a synergistic effect, working together to cause the fast knock down of weeds in just a few days. Pyridate is quickly absorbed by the leaf, destroying plant cells and resulting in the death of the weeds. Mesotrione works through two different routes inside the plant to kill the weeds quickly, but as it is selective, has zero effect on the maize plants, leaving them undamaged. Trials have shown that it can safely be used in maize seed production as well as grain and silage maize and sweet corn.
The challenge: Glyphosate-resistant weeds
Weeds are already showing resistance to many of the herbicide products that have, in the past, been effective in controlling post-emergence weeds in maize and, even in the GMO system, there is an increasing number of glyphosate-resistant weeds. This means that farmers have a diminishing number of crop protection options available, leaving them vulnerable to reduced yields and lower income.
Botiga brings the advantage of a different mode of action to which no resistance has been recorded in Europe, making it the best product to combat weeds that are already resistant to other chemicals. In general, even weeds that are resistant to triazines are sensitive to pyridate and can therefore be controlled by Botiga. As a result, it will also help to maintain good weed resistance management practices in maize.
Benefits of Botiga
Botiga can be used post crop emergence, from growth stage 12 – 16 and is compatible with numerous adjuvants. Field trials in South Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso and Turkey have consistently produced results that are on a par with, or even better than, reference products. Botiga provides long-lasting control of 42 days or more, covering broadleaved weeds and grasses. Used in a mix with nicosulfuron it offers increased efficacy against grass weeds and sedges.
The product has a favourable tox and eco-tox profile with low risk of harmful effects on mammals, birds, soil and aquatic organisms, and the environment.
It is already registered for use in many European countries, the USA and Burkina Faso, Mali, Zambia and Senegal in Africa. Further developments are expected in Egypt, Turkey and elsewhere.
From the field
Mr Issiaka Idani, a Botiga distributor in Burkina Faso, was delighted with the results his customers saw from using the product successfully to control key weeds last season and he welcomed the benefits it brings.
“Botiga has certainly shown itself to be the solution to our maize farmers’ difficulties. It provided effective control of the major weed problems they faced. In addition, the use of this product allowed them to reduce their labour and also contributed to an increased yield of 5 tons per hectare, compared to the average of 3 to 3.35 tons they would normally expect,” he explained. “The fact that there is no evidence of resistance to the product is an added bonus for the future use of this effective product.”
Multiple benefits of Botiga for weed control in maize:
- Synergistic effect of the mixture
- Quick uptake and fast action
- Broad weed spectrum and good control of difficult weeds
- Selective of maize (grain, silage, sweetcorn and seed)
- Long lasting control 42+days
- Resistance management tool (resistance to triazines, sulfonyl ureas and glyphosate is occurring)
- Good tox and eco-tox profile
For more information please contact:
| Kevin Price Head of Corporate Affairs Certis Belchim BV Tel: +31 302 001200 Kevin.Price@certisbelchim.com |
Gill Norriss Corporate PR for Certis Belchim Sequitur Tel: +44 1794 388 831 gillnorrriss@sequitur.eu.com |
Notes to Editors:
Certis Belchim, created through the merger of Certis Europe B.V. and Belchim Crop Protection NV/SA in 2022, provides a new force in crop protection. The company combines the strengths of these two well-established businesses with expertise in product development, registration and marketing and best-in-class technical and product knowledge. It has strong foundations and an established footprint throughout Europe, dynamic and growing platforms in North America and expanding opportunities with partners in Africa, South America and Asia.
Parent company, Mitsui & Co. Ltd., markets and distributes a wide variety of conventional and biorational crop protection products, biological pest control products and services through its European, Japanese, African and U.S. marketing subsidiaries.
Useful Certis group & Mitsui & Co websites: –
Certis Belchim : www.certisbelchim.com
Certis Europe : www.certiseurope.com
Belchim Crop Protection : www.belchim.com
Certis Biologicals (USA) : www.certisbio.com
Mitsui & Co: www.mitsui.co.jp