Astrokerb^®

Name: Astrokerb®
Brand: Corteva Agriscience

Herbicide

Astrokerb^® is a suspension concentrate containing 5.3 g/l aminopyralid and 500 g/l propyzamide, a contact and residual herbicide delivering control of annual meadow-grass, poppy, mayweed and other grass and broad-leaved weeds in winter oilseed rape.

For more info call our Technical Hotline: +44 800 689 8899 or email: ukhotline@corteva.com

View the new topic sheet to find out more about using oilseed rape herbicides in a programme.

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Astrokerb^® Safety Data Sheet

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Astrokerb® Tech Sheet

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About Astrokerb®

Excellent grass weed control

Astrokerb® gives excellent grass weed control, the same as Kerb® Flo 400, both of which have no known resistance

controls fop/dim/den/ALS-inhibitor resistant species
gives you a clean start in the following cereal crop, minimising seed return

Broad-leaved weed control

The combination also controls broad-leaved weeds with the unique active ingredient, aminopyralid

controls ALS resistant poppies and mayweeds
works when temperatures are cold
binds to cellulose of the broad-leaved weed
active ingredient is not metabolised but released when the weed starts to grow
only binds to living cellulose tissue
washes off trash
some root uptake before it breaks down harmlessly in the soil

Oilseed Rape

	1.0 l/ha		1.5 l/ha
	Up to 2 leaves	Established	Up to 2 leaves	Established
Annual meadow-grass	S	S	S	S
Barren brome	-	-	S	S
Black bindweed	S	R	S	MR
Black nightshade	S	R	S	MR
Black-grass*	-	-	S	MS
Cleavers**	-	-	MR	R
Common chickweed	S	R	S	S¹
Common poppy	-	-	S	S
Fat hen	S	R	S	MR
Forget-me-not	-	-	MS	R
Knotgrass	S	R	S	MR
Mayweed	-	-	S	S
Redshank	S	R	S	MR
Small nettle	S	R	S	MR
Speedwells***	R	R	S	MR
Vol. cereals	S	S	S	S
Wild oats	S	S	S	S
Key: S - Susceptible, MS - Moderately Susceptible, MR - Moderately Resistant R - Resistant, Use full rate of 1.7 l/ha for difficult black-grass populations. Germinating cleavers are MS, **Germinating speedwells are S, ¹Chickweed control may be reduced where it is well established (over 10 cm diameter).

Product Registration Number: PCS 05322

Active Ingredients: 5.3 g/litre aminopyralid and 500 g/litre propyzamide

Pack Size: 10.0 litres

Formulation: Suspension Concentrate

Maximum Individual Dose: 1.7 l/ha – the black-grass rate. In other situations use 1.5 l/ha

Maximum Total Dose: One per crop

Latest Timing: Before 1st Feb in the year of harvest

Water Volumes: 200–300 l/ha

Spray Quality: Medium as defined by the BCPC

LERAP: None

Astrokerb and oilseed rape straw

Do not bale or remove straw from the field unless it is to be used for burning for heat or electricity production. The straw should be chopped and thoroughly incorporated after harvest.
Do not feed animals with treated straw, or use it for animal bedding, composting or mulching.
To optimise Astrokerb's performance, there are three areas to be considered – soil temperature, soil moisture and weed seed depth. Soil temperatures need to be cooling - around 10ºC and falling at 30 cm depth, meaning the herbicide is slower to breakdown and that longer persistence is achieved throughout the weed germination period.

Good levels of soil moisture are needed to help the herbicide distribute evenly in the top few centimetres of the soil thus the soil moisture deficit should be less than 50 mm and falling. Soils must not be waterlogged or saturated. Care must be taken to avoid any risk of contamination to water and importantly, all aspects of good stewardship applied.
With regard to weed seed depth, germinating weed seed should not come from any deeper than 5 cms as the black-grass would then be germinating from below the zone where the Astrokerb concentrations are high enough to give good levels of kill.

Decades of trials and wide field experience across the UK and Ireland has demonstrated that using full-rate Astrokerb or Kerb Flo 400 from November onwards gives the most reliable and most persistent control of grass weeds year after year.

Tank mixes, sequences and programmes

Wide range of fully supported tank mix partners.
Remember only 2 fop/dim applications can be made to an OSR crop. Consider a programmed approach with Astrokerb to maximise volunteer cereal and other grass weed control.
Do not apply a three-way mix of graminicide + fungicide + Astrokerb

However, use a programmed approach to free up a tank mix opportunity of Astrokerb with a fungicide
Call Corteva Agriscience Hotline (+44 800 689 8899) for the latest on tank mixes, sequences and programmes involving Astrokerb

Do I need a dry leaf for application of Astrokerb or Kerb Flo 500?
The propyzamide active in Astrokerb and Kerb Flo 500 is soil acting so spraying wet weeds at run-off or light rainfall after application is not an issue. Ideally, the rainfastness of Astrokerb is 1 hour for the aminopyralid element. Spraying on a drying leaf is OK but if rainfall falls within 1 hour and causes run-off efficacy may be reduced. All applications should be made with due regard to water stewardship, i.e. do not spray where there is a risk of run-off to adjacent watercourses.

Can I apply Astrokerb or Kerb Flo 500 in a frost?
For Astrokerb please ensure frost is off the target broad-leaved weed. Kerb Flo 500 may be applied in frosty conditions but avoid application onto frozen ground where subsequent rainfall could result in run-off into watercourses.

Which broad-leaved weeds does Astrokerb control over Kerb?
Astrokerb applied at 1.5 l/ha or 1.7 l/ha will give very good control of small (2-4TL) mayweed, poppy, chickweed, groundsel and pansy. When applied at 1.7 l/ha, Astrokerb can give high levels of control of mayweed and poppy (up to 8TL) and chickweed (up to 5 branches). Control of groundsel falls off after the 6TL stage, but is very good earlier.

What is the optimum timing for Astrokerb?
When targeting black-grass in winter oilseed rape, we recommend soil temperatures at or below 10°C to get sufficient activity from propyzamide. The objective is to keep the propyzamide in the top 5 cm of soil for as long as possible. Propyzamide breaks down slowly when soil temperatures fall below 10^oC. Good control is achieved when a lethal concentration is reached in the weed and is a function of the length of time the weed is in the propyzamide zone and the concentration of propyzamide in the zone. Astrokerb will also give good control of poppy and mayweed at this timing.

The propyzamide in Astrokerb forms a shallow layer in the soil, about 2.5-5 cm, black-grass seed germinating in this zone will be well controlled however, black-grass germinating below this will be poorly controlled. High levels of control are achieved where less mixing of the soil takes place (direct drilling etc.) and thus black-grass seed remains within the top 5 cm of soil. Avoid deep cultivations in a preceding winter wheat crop and in the oilseed rape crop as this will distribute black-grass seed throughout the soil profile away from the 5 cm propyzamide zone of activity.

Can the straw from oilseed rape treated with Astrokerb be used for animal bedding?
Oilseed rape straw from crops treated with Astrokerb needs to remain in the field and must not be baled and/or used for bedding. It may be removed from the field to be used for burning for heat or electricity production.

How can you get the best results from propyzamide in oilseed rape?

In this video, Hugh Guinan explains the key considerations for successful Astrokerb® applications, including soil temperatures, moisture levels, timing, stewardship and effective control of blackgrass and ryegrass in Irish cropping systems. Learn how to optimise autumn applications and maximise grassweed control performance.

When to Apply Propyzamide in OSR: Key Timing Advice for Irish Growers

2:22

®™Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use

Astrokerb®

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About Astrokerb®

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How can you get the best results from propyzamide in oilseed rape?

When to Apply Propyzamide in OSR: Key Timing Advice for Irish Growers

When to Apply Propyzamide in OSR: Key Timing Advice for Irish Growers

Astrokerb^®