In the agribusiness sector, weed control is vital to protect crops from pests, weeds, and weeds that undermine crops, which is why it is important to understand the best time to carry out this procedure.
Generally speaking, but this is not a fixed rule, the best time to use sprayers and spray booms is from spring onward. This is because most plant protection agents work best at temperatures between 10 and 25 degrees.
However, the correct answer to the best time to carry out herbicide operations is: when needed. This may seem a trivial answer, however, activities and crops are different and occur at different times of the year.
For example, vegetables are grown throughout the year, requiring constant herbicide intervention in order to protect the agri-food product.
However, depending on the different periods, activities with sprayers and spray booms are always carried out by the farmer. This is because many pathogens, especially animal pathogens, tend to form after rains and periods of high humidity. Moisture, in fact, tends to promote the establishment of grass and insect larvae.
The grass, in order to feed itself, risks depriving fruit trees of water and nutrients from the soil. Insects, also in the business of feeding, are likely to attack the fruit on the tree, bringing potential disease and damage to the produce.
What is the best time for weeding activities?
Weeding can be done in two distinct stages:
- Pre-emergence
- Post-emergency
Pre-emergence activity, which often coincides with pre-seeding, is an operation designed to disinfest cropland from weeds that, by arising, could create damage to the future fruit plant. A preventive treatment promotes the elimination of competing grasses and reduces the risk from insect attacks.
Post-emergency treatments, on the other hand, should be carried out when weeds or animal hazards, are already present in the soil. In general, these treatments are carried out after planting during particularly rainy and/or wet periods, especially to defend fruit plants from insects.
If the pre-emergence activity is easily scheduled, the post-emergence activity can be planned by keeping abreast of weather conditions, however, sudden rains dictate that the level of attention be kept very high in order not to waste part of the investment.
In addition, knowledge of the phenological cycle of agribusiness products helps to study the best activities to preserve one’s crops.
In general, the following scheme can be followed for guidance on when to weed:
- Fruits: from February to August
- Vegetables: year-round depending on the crop planted
- Cereals: March to May (pre- and post-transplant herbicide treatments are generally done in February)
