Weed Identification is Critical for these Herbicides

Back in the days when glyphosate was king, weed identification was less important and almost irrelevant in many situations. With glyphosate resistance widespread, it’s important to know what weed you’re up against. 

Beyond Glyphosate: Why Weed ID Matters Now More Than Ever

If I have ragweed in my field, a product containing clopyralid will be effective, but clopyralid won’t control emerged waterhemp, common lambsquarters, or kochia. 

📸: BASF employee/Featuring Velvetleaf (a large seeded broadleaf weed) and foxtail in soybeans.

📸: BASF employee/Featuring Common ragweed.

Know Your Enemy: Matching Weeds to Effective Herbicides 

Armezon^® herbicide is very effective at controlling emerged waterhemp, common lambsquarters, and kochia, but it will not control wild buckwheat (add some atrazine for help with wild buckwheat). 

📸: BASF employee/Featuring Wild buckwheat.

What about grasses? Armezon^® herbicide is excellent (90–100% control) at controlling emerged giant foxtail, but only fair (65–80%) at controlling yellow foxtail. Tembotrione is good on yellow foxtail but poor on fall panicum. While Status^® herbicide is virtually a cure-all for broad-leaf weeds, it needs a tank mix partner to control grasses.

📸: BASF employee/Featuring Venice mallow.

Group 15 Herbicides: Pros & Cons for Broadleaf and Grass Control 

Outlook^® herbicide and Zidua^® SC herbicide give residual control over most small-seeded broadleaves (waterhemp, common lambsquarters, and others) and grasses, but they don’t typically provide good control over large-seeded broadleaves (giant ragweed, cocklebur, wild sunflower, and morningglory species). 

📸: BASF employee/Featuring Giant ragweed.

Large Seeded Broadleaf Weeds:

For residual control of large-seeded broadleaves, the saflufenacil chemistry found in Sharpen^® herbicide, Verdict^® herbicide, Zidua^® PRO herbicide, and Surtain™ herbicide is a very effective tool. 

Outlook^® herbicide vs. Zidua^® SC herbicide:

Outlook^® herbicide is better than Zidua^® SC herbicide on common lambsquarters and yellow nutsedge control. Zidua SC herbicide is better than Outlook herbicide for kochia control (if it gets 1/2" rain for activation). 

There are a lot of good resources available for weed identification. Check out your local land grant university website for more information.

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Endnotes

1. Source: Product labels and Winfield United Crop Protection Guide (2023).

Always read and follow label directions. Grow Smart, Armezon, Status, Zidua, Outlook, Sharpen, and Verdict are registered trademarks of BASF. Surtain is a trademark of BASF. 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.