Investment in innovative formulations

Annual nettle controlled by Kyleo.

Nufarm says it continues to invest in developing innovative formulations and one of its real successes is the product Kyleo – a special state of the art herbicide containing glyphosate and 2,4-D.

“We continue to invest in glyphosate through the development of innovative co-formulations with additional actives to extend its weed spectrum. For example Kyleo offers growers many benefits over and above straight glyphosate. Growers using Kyleo for weed control in stubbles this spring will see that it controls a wide range of grass and broad-leaved weeds including common weeds that are not well controlled by normal glyphosate products; such as annual nettle. It also provides faster kill of weeds. Its major uses are for weed control in stubbles, stale seedbeds and covercrop and grassland destruction,” says Richard Dyason, technical manager for UK and Ireland for Nufarm.

Data from a series of trials across Europe proves the versatility, reliability and effectiveness of Kyleo on number of challenging broad-leaved weeds found in stubbles. For example thistles (Cirsium arvense); in 18 trials across Europe, 1800 g ai/ha of glyphosate gave an average 95.65% control of thistles compared with Kyleo at 5l/ha delivering 1200 g a.i/ha of glyphosate and 800 g a.i. 2,4-D which gave 98.25% control. In these trials the worst result for glyphosate was 46.5% and the worst for Kyleo was 65%. For field bindweed (Convulvulus arvensis) the results were similar but more pronounced; 5l/ha of Kyleo averaged 98.5% control of field bindweed and glyphosate straight averaged 88.13% control of this weed. In the worst trials of these 12 trials, glyphosate straight gave just 30% control whilst the worst that Kyleo gave was 90% – 3 times that of glyphosate alone. For crane’s-bill (Geranium species which has become a widespread nuisance weed in arable land) 5 l/ha of Kyleo averaged at 97.88% control and glyphosate at 96.5% but once again the worst result from these 10 trials, glyphosate gave 81.5% compared with Kyleo at 94%. This clearly shows that Kyleo has a much better, more consistent and more reliable effect on these common irritating weeds that can infest stubbles.

The last weed featured in this series of trials is not even on the Kyleo label, but nevertheless it outperforms glyphosate significantly. Visually Kyleo provides top levels of control of mare’s tail. The average control level for Kyleo on mare’s-tail (Equisetum arvense) was 90.16% and for glyphosate just 24.75% on average. In the worst trial glyphosate gave a miserable 5% control of mare’s-tail.

Richard explains that the Kyleo’s unique formulation has a lipophilic action maximising uptake of both active ingredients and ensuring maximum activity and rainfastness within one hour, another important farmer benefit over straight glyphosate. ”The advanced formulation of Kyleo delivers 2,4-D which adds to the level of weed control and makes it a more complete product overall, getting the glyphosate to work better gram for gram,” he concludes.