BEST-BUY 200 SL

Introduction

BEST-BUY is a non-selective and non-residual contact herbicide for control of grasses and broad-leaved weeds in nurseries, orchards, vineyards, non-crop land and for use in pre-plant or pre-emergence in vegetables and cereals. It may also be used as a desiccant applied 10-14 days before the intended harvest of potatoes.

Features and Benefits of BEST-BUY

• Contains herbicide with limited systemic movement within leaves.
• Controls a wide range of grasses and broadleaved weeds.
• Controls weeds resistant to glyphosate.
• Is non-residual with no significant soil activity.
• Suitable for use in young orchards and vineyards, provided foliage is effectively shielded from spray and for sucker control in orchards.
• Faster acting than glyphosate-based products.
• Excellent activity as a pre-harvest desiccant.

Formulation

BEST-BUY formulation contains 200 g/l of glufosinate–ammonium in aqueous solution. It also contains a surfactant. There is no need for additional wetting agents to be added.

Spectrum of Activity

BEST-BUY controls a wide range of annual and perennial weeds in orchards, vineyards and citrus groves. It may also be used on non-cropped land and pre-emergence in cotton, vegetables, potatoes and other crops.

As a crop desiccant BEST-BUY is particularly effective in potatoes.

Mode of Action

Movement of glufosinate-ammonium within the plant is very limited compared with that of glyphosate. Speed of action is slower than that of paraquat, but faster than glyphosate, with regrowth from glufosinate-ammonium treatment much slower than from paraquat treatment.

Translocation to the roots is limited. Contact with suckers, low shoots or branches of orchard crops and ornamental plants will not harm the rest of the plant, other than damaging the tissue directly contacted. BEST-BUY is the product of choice in orchards where control of suckers is a problem.

Plant growth ceases soon after application of BEST-BUY. Under warm conditions there is often an initial general yellowing within a day or two of application, followed by damaged patches that spread as the plant wilts and collapses within 1 to 3 weeks. Under cooler conditions the first obvious symptoms may take more than a week to appear, but weeds become uncompetitive once treated.

Half of applied BEST-BUY penetrates into the leaf within 6 hours of treatment and penetration should be complete by 24 hours. Speed and extent of uptake depends on factors such as stage of growth, humidity, temperature and product concentration.

BEST-BUY is not systemic, although it does redistribute within the leaf and so has slightly more movement than that offered by bipyridyls. This is ideal for the product when used as a potato desiccant: active ingredient does not accumulate in seeds or tubers, but it can move locally to accumulate in side shoots to minimise regrowth of dead haulm of potatoes.