Deep Dive into Provisia® & Clearfield® Rice Management: A Best Practices Guide

In our previous webinar on Clean Rice Fields, Higher Yields: Conquering Weedy Rice with Provisia^® Seed, we brought you a complete overview of the Provisia^® Rice System and shared our agronomists' best management practices (BMPs) and stewardship from the field.

The Provisia^® Rice System consists of Provisia^® seed traits and compatible herbicides for a uniquely powerful solution for growers battling red and weedy rice types. However, to maximize the effectiveness of Provisia^® seed traits, implementing best management practices (BMPs) is critical to ensuring your long-term success.

In this guide, we'll go beyond just the "lay of the land," and dive deeper into our best management practices for Provisia^® rice seed traits and Clearfield^® rice varieties, empowering more growers to achieve the highest performance weed control available for longer.

Clearfield^® Rice: A Foundation for Superior Weed Management

Seedbed Preparation:

Begin with a clean slate. Employ tillage practices or burndown herbicides like glyphosate to eliminate existing weeds and minimize competition for nutrients and sunlight.

Herbicide Selection:

Choose your weapons wisely!

• Avoid ALS-inhibiting herbicides for pre-emergence control, as overuse can lead to resistance in targeted weeds like red rice.
• Consider pre-emergence options like Sharpen^® herbicide, Command^® herbicide, or a combination for broad-spectrum control.
• Remember, the key is to rotate modes of action throughout the season to prevent resistance buildup in any single weed population.

Crop Rotation:

Break the cycle! Include crops like soybeans or corn in your rotation plan to disrupt red rice life cycles and reduce their populations over time. While in tolerant crop systems utilize herbicide technologies to further reduce weed populations before reentering into rice such as group 15 residuals.

Conquering Red Rice in Clearfield^® Production Systems:

Targeted Herbicides:

• Explore alternative mode-of action containing products for enhanced control, but always consult with local extension specialists for specific recommendations based on your region and weed spectrum.

Post-Harvest Management:

Don't let your guard down after harvest. Utilize tillage or targeted applications of glyphosate in fallow fields to prevent red rice from setting seed, outcrossing, and establishing new populations.

Crawfish Production Considerations:

If you integrate crawfish production into your rotation, DO NOT grow Clearfield rice after crawfish in fields where Clearfield rice was previously grown. DO NOT allow any Clearfield rice to go to seed in a non-rice year. This includes any fallow or crawfish productions fields. Red rice populations can linger and pose challenges in subsequent rice crops.

Water Management:

Timeliness is key! Implement a flush within two days of the first herbicide application to activate pre-emergent herbicides and maximize control. Initiate permanent flood within two days of the second application for optimal weed suppression.

Field Borders: Don't Let Escapes Take Root:

Regularly monitor field edges, ditches, and levees for red rice escapes. Employ rouging (manual removal) to prevent these survivors from spreading, outcrossing, and reinfesting your fields.

Post-Harvest Seed Germination Encouragement:

After harvest, consider practices like rolling and flushing rice fields to stimulate germination of weed seeds in the soil. This allows for a targeted control window in the fall before the next planting season.

📸: @baianliang via Canva

Provisia^® Rice: Leveraging Powerful Herbicide Resistance Technology

Herbicide Specificity:

Provisia^® herbicide is for Provisia^® rice only! Avoid using it on any other rice varieties to avoid negative crop response.

Application Timing:

• Target weedy rice and grasses at their most vulnerable stage: the two-leaf to one-tiller stage just before permanent flood.
• Ensure air temperatures are at or above 60°F for at least three days before and after application to minimize potential crop injury.

Tank-Mix Partners:

Consider including a tank-mix partner for broader weed control and incorporate additional modes of action in the first application.

Avoiding Antagonistic Interactions:

Not all partners play nice! Avoid tank-mixing Provisia^® herbicide with herbicides like Stam, Regiment, Grasp Extra, Grandstand, Grasp, or 2,4-D as they can antagonize the Provisia Herbicide's effectiveness.

Crop Rotation Strategy:

Provisia Rice Seed requires a dedicated rotation plan. Avoid planting Provisia rice in the year following Clearfield rice or in fields where an imidazolinone "Imi" herbicide was used previously.

Application Optimization:

• Ensure proper coverage by using high gallons per acre (GPA) – at least 10 gallons per acre by air or ground application.
• Include a crop oil concentrate (COC) at a minimum rate of 1 pint per acre to enhance herbicide efficacy.
• Provisia herbicide offers multiple application options (two or three applications). The three-application approach is generally recommended, with an initial 11-fluid ounce application followed by two subsequent 10-fluid ounce applications.

📸: Brian J Vercillino/Featuring Provisia^® rice field (PVL03) near El Campo Tx 2024. Photo taken a day before receiving its second application of Provisia^® herbicide, fertilizer and going to flood.

General Best Management Practices for Maximum Rice Yields

Maximizing Coverage:

Higher GPA (gallons per acre) application rates ensure thorough coverage of herbicides across the field, maximizing weed control efficacy.

Crop Oil Concentrate (COC):

Including a COC from your authorized retailer in your herbicide mix will improve herbicide uptake and overall effectiveness.

Targeted Application Timing:

Apply herbicides when targeted weeds are actively growing and most susceptible, typically during the two-leaf to one-tiller stage.

Multiple Modes of Action:

Employ a diverse arsenal! Utilize herbicides with different modes of action throughout the season. This multi-faceted approach helps prevent resistance development in any single weed biotype.

Non-Antagonistic Tank Mixes:

Consult with agricultural professional, such as your local retailer or BASF Representative, before tank-mixing Provisia herbicide with other herbicides. Incompatible tank-mix partners can significantly reduce Provisia herbicide's effectiveness or lead to crop response.

Testing and Monitoring for Proactive Management

LSU AgCenter Testing:

Proactive growers can leverage testing services offered by the LSU AgCenter to identify potential Provisia rice outcrosses in weedy rice samples. Early detection allows for swift action to prevent further spread.

Sample Collection:

To ensure accurate testing results, collect 50-100 leaf samples from different plants across the field, providing a representative overview of the weedy rice population.

📸: @patpitchaya via Canva

Going Beyond the Basics: Additional Considerations

Clearfield Rice vs. Provisia Seed Variety Resistance:

It's important to remember that Horizon Ag Clearfield^® rice and Provisia^® rice varieties utilize distinct herbicide resistance technologies. Fortunately, testing can differentiate between Provisia rice and Clearfield rice varieties resistance in weedy rice, allowing for targeted management strategies.

Provisia Rice Outcross Management:

Provisia rice varieties outcrossed with weedy rice may have occurred during fallow periods or crawfish production. Implement appropriate management practices in these fields to prevent outcrossed rice from producing seedheads and further contaminating your operation.

By adhering to these comprehensive best management practices, growers can achieve exceptional weed control in both the Clearfield Production Systems and Provisia Rice System. Remember, a combination of strategic herbicide selection, application timing, and proactive monitoring is the key to long-term weed management success and sustained rice production.

Experts are available to help you make your decisions. Reach out to your seed retailer, a nearby extension office agent, or a seed company professional like your regional BASF representative for assistance.

________________________________________________

Additional Resources

• BASF representatives: Drs. Keith Burnell, Kaelin Saul
• LSU AgCenter: Drs. Adam Famoso, Rice Breeding & Genetics, Connor Webster, Rice Weed Management,
• Horizon Ag: Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag, CEO

Always read and follow label directions. Grow Smart, Provisia and Clearfield are registered trademarks of BASF. Command is a trademark of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of any such trademark does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by its owner. © 2024 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

Before mixing components, always conduct a compatibility jar test. Always consult respective product labels for specific mixing instructions. The most restrictive label applies.