Docks are a major problem in grassland and can have serious impacts on productivity and palatability of forage.
They compete with grass for light, nutrients and moisture, thus reducing grass yields. They have only 65% of the feed value of good grass and are generally unpalatable to livestock.
As a long-term problem, docks require a long-term solution.
As well as cutting yield, docks can lead to a decline in silage quality through poorer fermentation. Dock stems inflict serious damage to the quality of baled silage through puncturing of the film.
The benefits of eliminating docks and other weeds before silage is cut, are unquestionable. In addition to higher dry matter (DM) yield and better quality, it will also ensure a clean, productive sward for subsequent grazing or a second silage cut.
Distributed by Whelehan Crop Protection, Doxstar Pro represents the ideal product for controlling docks in silage swards, along with grazing pastures and silage ground.
Manufactured by Corteva Agriscience, Doxstar Pro contains two powerful actives: triclopyr and fluroxypyr, ensuring the most effective kill of the dock root system, which can be up to a metre deep.
It is also highly effective on common chickweed and mouse-eared chickweed and on dandelions. Most significantly, it doesn’t result in any check to grass growth.
The recommended application rate of Doxstar Pro is 2L/ha as a single application, or two applications of 1L/ha six to 12 months apart.
Technical manager at Whelehan Crop Production, Chris Maughan, said:
“The ideal time to spray silage swards is seven to 14 days after fertiliser is applied. The docks should then be actively growing and be 15 to 25cm (six to 10″) high or across and before a seed head begins to appear. This is the ideal stage for best long-term control.
“Leave a minimum of three weeks between spraying with Doxstar Pro and cutting the sward in order for the chemicals to get fully translocated down to the dock root system.”
Doxstar Pro
- Doxstar Pro contains two powerful chemicals, triclopyr and fluroxypyr;
- It works powerfully on docks and is highly effective on chickweed and dandelions;
- Best results are achieved when docks are actively growing, are 15 to 25cm (six to 10″);
- Doxstar Pro should be applied at a rate of 2L/ha as a single application, or two applications of 1L/ha to 12 months apart;
- Leave at least three weeks between spraying and silage harvesting.
Tackling chickweed
Common chickweed seems to be a growing problem in silage and grazing swards.
It appears to be a particular problem in swards that were tightly grazed. This results in chickweed seeds being disturbed.
The seeds germinated during the autumn and continued to grow during the relatively mild winter and spring. Where chickweed is the dominant weed in a silage sward, Envy – a herbicide for broad-leaved weed control in grassland – is the product of choice.
Mouse-eared chickweed is also a problem, particularly in recently re-seeded swards. It differs from common chickweed as it contains many tiny hairs on the leaves, which can prevent the spray droplets reaching the plant leaf cuticle.
Because of the combination of active ingredients and its formulation type, Envy is particularly effective on mouse-eared chickweed.
