IN KENYA

TEA AND PRE-PLANT WHEAT ONLY

Pre-plant Weed Control with “Roundup Turbo”

Weed Control with “Roundup Turbo” in established

perennial crops such as tea.

The “Roundup Turbo” formulation with the TranSorb surfactant is an excellent product for low volume low pressure

pre-plant spraying. On large areas this spraying system can save

Low spray volumes of 70 to 100ℓ per ha means

Whether a farmer is doing conventional ploughing or using a reduced or no tillage

system for his crop production, land and seedbed preparation should be complete

before or very soon after the first rains of the season. It is these rains that initiate the

first flush of weed growth. This system is widely used for grain crop production but it

can be adapted for almost all crops.

The system of using “Roundup Turbo” for the control of these early weeds is as follows

• prepare the seedbed

spray with “Roundup Turbo” at the recommended dosage rate

wait for 24 hours for the herbicide to be taken up by the weeds

plant and fertilise the crop

Certain bush and tree crops have open canopies or wide inter-rows that allow for

weeds to grow between the crops. For some of the row planted tree crops herbicides

can be applied mechanically whereas in other crops application must be by knapsack

to avoid herbicide contact with the crop. The concept is to direct the spray onto the

target weeds and away from the crop.

For a crop such as tea, the inter-row area must allow for the tea pickers to move freely

between plants. This in turn allows for weed growth, which can have a detrimental

effect on the crop as well as become a physical barrier for the tea pickers. In situations

such as this, the application of “Roundup Turbo” with a knapsack and a shield attached

to the nozzle allows for directed inter-row spraying onto the weeds and under the crop

canopy but with minimal chance of drift onto the crop. The concept of low volume

low pressure spraying further reduces the possibility of crop injury due to contact with

the herbicide.

Registration number Roundup Turbo: PCPB(R) 0328

• up to 60% of tractor hours,

• up to 60% of fuel and equipment wear-and-tear and

• up to 70% labour saving.

• more hectares sprayed per tank,

• less time spent filling the spray tank and travelling to and from the lands,

• a higher concentration of herbicide that gives more reliable results,

• more productive utilisation of labour and equipment.

• sufficient rainfall for the germination and emergence of the first weed flush

• allow weeds to get to about 10cm high

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• apply a pre-emerge herbicide.

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Monsanto Kenya Limited, P.O. Box 47686, 00100 Nairobi, Tel + 254 722 205 294 & 733 600 498

Introduction

“Roundup Turbo” Characteristics

Monsanto is a research-based company that has an excellent record of discovering

something new and useful. It was in the early 1970s that Monsanto introduced

Roundup® herbicide to the world. This has now become the single biggest crop

protection product on the planet with annual sales of over US $ 8 billion. This is a

product that is giving excellent weed control, is reliable and is not regarded as

hazardous to humankind and the environment. It has been used throughout the

world for over 30 years.

When Monsanto introduced Roundup the formulation contained 360g of

glyphosate per litre as a water-based concentrate. Glyphosate is always in a salt

form but it is the pure glyphosate that kills weeds and not the salt. Of all the salts

tested, it is the isopropylamine salt that has given the best overall results with

favourable characteristics. This has become known as the “Roundup Classic”

formulation as it has been very difficult to improve on its performance.

By continuing research and development on Roundup, Monsanto has developed a

new formulation process as well as a new sophisticated and efficient surfactant

system called TranSorb®.( insert logo) This new technology is combined in

Roundup Turbo.

The new “Roundup Turbo” Herbicide

Roundup Turbo contains 450g of glyphosate derived from the isopropylamine salt

(IPA salt) in a litre as a water based concentrate. This represents an increase of 25%

in the active ingredient concentration. In addition, this formulation includes the

new sophisticated TranSorb surfactant that other glyphosate formulations do not

have. These new technologies mean a more concentrated and highly effective

herbicide for the control of the tough weeds.

The requirements of Roundup Classic are well known and must still be adhered to

when using “Roundup Turbo”. However, these new technologies bring certain

benefits or improvements that are of value when used on the farm in commercial

situations. These are

• Dosage rates of “Roundup Turbo” are reduced due to the higher concentration.

Due to the rapid uptake of the herbicide by plants, only 2 rain-free hours

are required after spraying (not 6 hours as with other formulations).

• The TranSorb surfactant system results in a larger quantity of active ingredient

being taken up by the plants.

There is less chance of sub-lethal dosages and weed survival.

There is less chance of weed resistance developing

• This is an excellent formulation for use in low volume and low pressure spray

equipment.

Low volume spraying is time and labour saving without compromising

efficacy.

Low volume spraying at a low spray pressure greatly reduces the hazard

of off-target drift on to crops, pastures or water bodies.

• This formulation is compatible with other crop protection products such as

Lasso® MT and Harness®.

[Glyphosate is not compatible with atrazine.]

The higher herbicide concentration means less product is required.

Less product means less packaging, transport and storage.

Less product means less disposal of empty containers.

The combination of these makes for more efficiency and less direct and indirect

costs.

• The TranSorb surfactant system accelerates “Roundup Turbo” uptake by the

plants.

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•

The favourable environmental characteristics of Roundup are retained in “Roundup

Turbo”.

Always use clean water for spraying. Organic matter and clay particles in the water

will reduce efficacy.

Spray water should have a pH of between 5 and 6.5. If in doubt as to the water pH,

always add a buffer or ammonium sulphate (see below) to neutralise any alkaline

water. Remember, “Roundup Turbo” is a mild acid.

Hard water contains dissolved salts that make it alkaline. Always treat hard water

with ammonium sulphate add 2kg per 100ℓ spray water to overcome the adverse

effects of the salts in the water. Hard water up to 420 ppm CaCO3 can be treated

with a buffer.

When treating the spray water always add a buffer or ammonium sulphate to the

water before adding “Roundup Turbo”.

Knapsack sprayers should be calibrated to spray approximately 1000 sq m per 20 -

use a low pressure with low pressure nozzles to spray approximately 1sq m per

second.

Ground spray equipment should be calibrated to apply between 70 and 150 spray

solution per ha at a low pressure of approximately 1 bar.

Aerial application should be calibrated to spray between 30 and 40 spray solution

per ha. To avoid excessive drift when spraying by air, position all the atomisers

within the inner 60 to 75 % of the wingspan to prevent droplets from entering the

wingtip vortices. The spray droplet size should be between 280 and 300 micron to

give 25 to 35 droplets per cm2.

Do not spray when wind speed exceeds 15km per hour.

Seedlings and small immature plants are the most sensitive of the plant growth

stages to “Roundup Turbo”. It is advisable to spray weeds when they are small as

lower rates are required for complete kill. Spray weeds that are growing vigorously.

This makes the treatment more cost effective.

Do not spray weeds that are wilted or suffering from stress heat, cold, drought,

waterlogging as herbicide uptake will be greatly reduced resulting in reduced weed

control.

Do not spray weeds that are wet (dew, rain, irrigation), covered in dust or dormant

as herbicide uptake will be greatly reduced resulting in reduced weed control.

Perennial weeds such as Cynodon and Cyperus have the potential to be the most

damaging to the crop. They are also more difficult to control as the dosage rate is

higher and it is important to spray them at the most sensitive growth stage. Perennial

weeds should be the priority target in any spray programme.

Perennial weeds are the most sensitive to “Roundup Turbo” when they are in flower.

“Roundup Turbo” is a non-selective herbicide it will kill plants that it is sprayed on

to. Do not allow spray mist to drift onto desirable vegetation or any water body.

What to do to make “Roundup Turbo” work for you

Spray Water Quality

Spray Water Volume

Weed Growth Stage and condition

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