Weed control

in potatoes

Prepared for the British Potato Council Crop Protection Treater Group*
by Dr Ken Davies, SAC
and checked by Mark Ballingall, SAC, and the key product manufacturers
*The treater group is a voluntary committee that brings together expertise from
R&D, Agronomy, Crop Protection, and Application Technology

March 2007

Weed control in potatoes

Weeds can affect yield and harvesting of potatoes and may encourage
certain pests and diseases.
Early weed control treatments need to maintain 6-8 weeks of control
before the crop can compete through shading.
Cultivation/re-ridging and thermal weed control are the main control
options for organic crops.
Where using herbicides consider: variety, end-use of the crop,
whether early or main-cropping, use of covers, soil type/conditions,
weed species and growth stage, and crop growth stage.

Contents
Effects of weeds.............................................................................................................3
Timing of weed control..................................................................................................3
Late treatments...............................................................................................................3
Choice of herbicides ......................................................................................................4
Impact of crop type on herbicide choice........................................................................5
Seed crops ..................................................................................................................5
Early ware varieties....................................................................................................5
Growing crops under covers ......................................................................................5
Processing crops.........................................................................................................5
Other end markets ......................................................................................................5
Impact of soil conditions................................................................................................6
Precautions.....................................................................................................................6
Following crops .............................................................................................................6
Mixing herbicides ..........................................................................................................7
Herbicide selection checklist .....................................................................................7
Herbicide mixtures.....................................................................................................7
Table 1: Active ingredients and products used in potato crops ....................................8
Table 2: Weed control of active ingredients used in potatoes ....................................10
The authors do not accept liability for any error or omission in the content, or for any loss, damage or
other accident arising from the use of techniques or products mentioned in this document.

USE PESTICIDES SAFELY, ALWAYS READ THE LABEL.

British Potato Council 2007

Weed control in potatoes

Effects of weeds
Potato yields can be seriously affected by the presence of weeds; particularly where
crop competition is reduced because of poor growing conditions or disease, or in
varieties where haulm development is slow. Weeds can also have a serious affect on
lifting the crop, entangling equipment and slowing operations. They can also
encourage some pests and diseases such as slugs, free living nematodes, wireworm
and rhizoctonia. The potato crop, once the haulm meets in the rows, is usually
effective in reducing late weed emergence through shading. However, weeds
emerging before row closure can grow above the crop canopy. Entangling weeds
such as bindweeds and knotgrass can grow through the crop, and tall weeds, such as
fat-hen, sowthistles, oilseed rape and grasses, can grow above the crop, shading and
competing strongly for resources.

Timing of weed control

Weed control needs to start whilst the weeds are accessible to treatment, that is, preemergence of the crop to before the crop shades emerged weeds.
The treatment needs to be able to maintain weed control for up to 6-8 weeks after crop
emergence to allow the crop canopy to close and shade further weed emergence. In
less vigorous and less competitive varieties, canopy closure may take longer, or
remain incomplete.
In conventional farming systems, treatments are based on herbicide treatment. This
may be before weeds and crop emergence with a residual soil-acting herbicide which
gives a number of weeks of control, depending on dose, soil type and weather
conditions. Some residual herbicides have some foliar as well as root activity and can
be used as the weeds and crop emerge. Mixtures with a contact herbicide are often
used at this timing. This timing, slightly later than purely pre-emergence of the crop,
allows the residual effect of soil-acting herbicides to persist for longer into the season.
This is particularly useful for slow growing varieties or in slow growing conditions.
In organic farming systems, cultivations and thermal weed control systems are used.
There is no residual effect from such treatment, so an alternative approach is needed.
By planting under a low ridge which is built-up by successive shallow
cultivations/ridging operations, good kill of seedling weeds is achieved, whilst
reducing the danger of crop root pruning. However, care has to be taken as later
cultivations may damage the crop. Just as the crop and weeds emerge, thermal weed
control can be successful. This is best used whilst weeds are at seedling stages.
The skilled organic grower can achieve good weed control, but planting the crop in
good conditions which allow rapid haulm development, good canopy development
and thus good crop competition, is even more important than for the conventional
grower.

Late treatments
The importance of early weed control is emphasised by the lack of later back-up
treatments once the crop is developing. For the conventional grower there are a few
herbicides available for late grass weed growth, and for ware growers, two herbicides
for later broad-leaved weed control. But they are limited in their activity. For the
organic grower there is no such fall-back apart from hoeing or hand-weeding. This is

British Potato Council 2007

Weed control in potatoes

a particular problem where tall (e.g. fat-hen) and perennial (e.g. couch grass, thistles)
weeds emerge late in the crop and are less affected by canopy development.

Choice of herbicides (see Tables 1 & 2)

The range of traditional residual herbicide treatments upon which conventional potato
growing relies have been greatly reduced in the past ten years. Modern growers are
heavily reliant on two residual herbicides: linuron and metribuzin. There is some use
of pendimethalin and clomazone, and a mixture of metribuzin with flufenacet. The
future of linuron will depend on decisions made under the EU Council Directive
91/414/EEC Plant Protection Products Directive. This is intended to harmonise
national arrangements for the authorisation of plant protection productions. This
includes four phases of reviews of existing active ingredients. The third round of the
review to accept products into Annex 3 includes linuron. Linuron is being supported
by a manufacturer (Makhteshim-Agan) through the review, but this is not a guarantee
of acceptance. Further the manufacturers support is for relatively low doses of
linuron (up to 960g active ingredient/ha), which may be insufficient when used alone
in some circumstances.
In 2007, however, a novel residual herbicide has become available, prosulfocarb,
which further improves the options for growers. This has been widely available and
used in Northern Europe for a number of years as an alternative to linuron. There are
also other potential products in development.
Metribuzin also has some foliar/ root uptake activity which allows use on weeds as
they emerge, and can be used post-emergence in the crop. The other residuals
(clomazone, linuron, pendimethalin, prosulfocarb) are either strictly soil acting or
have very limited post-emergence activity. If weeds have emerged then a foliar
treatment needs to be added to the residual. This is traditionally paraquat or paraquat
+ diquat, although more recently carfentrazone ethyl has become available.
Glufosinate-ammonium can also be used in ware crops. Paraquat +/- diquat and
carfentrazone-ethyl can be used as the crop is emerging :10% in seed crops and 40%
in ware crops for paraquat +/- diquat; 5% in earlies and 10% in maincrop for
carfentrazone-ethyl - although as the soil is cracking over the sprouting potatoes is
the preferred timing for carfentrazone-ethyl.
Other foliar-acting treatments include the graminicides for control of wild-oat,
volunteer cereals, rye-grass, black-grass and suppression of couch-grass :
cycloxydim, propaquizafop and quizalofop-P-tefuryl. For broad-leaved weeds,
bentazone can be used in some varieties of ware crops and rimsulfuron generally in
ware crops. These have some useful activity but cannot be relied upon for broadspectrum control and bentazone can scorch the crop.

British Potato Council 2007

Weed control in potatoes

Impact of crop type on herbicide choice

Seed crops
Seed potato crops are more susceptible than ware crops to problems related to weed
control practices. Any practice which delays tuber production will affect both seed
size and yield of these early lifted crops. Herbicides which affect the crop foliage
may render a crop liable to be rejected for seed use classification. The wrong
herbicide can distort or discolour crop foliage, which may affect seed certification.
Only herbicides recommended by the manufacturer for use on seed crops should be
used. Table 1 indicates whether a herbicide can be used in seed crops.

Do not use pendimethalin as it can cause viral-like curling of foliage.

Preferably use metribuzin pre-emergence rather than post-emergence in seed

crops as it can cause discolouration in stressed crops. Avoid use on light or stony
soils as; if heavy rain follows treatment it can cause damage to emerging foliage.

Do not use rimsulfuron or bentazone in seed crops as they can affect the foliage
colour.

Contact herbicides, paraquat +/- diquat, and carfentrazone-ethyl, are best used preemergence in seed crops. Post-emergence use may delay tuber initiation and
bulking, and therefore harvest date. Do not use glufosinate-ammonium in seed
crops.

Early ware varieties

Early planted crops and early varieties are generally more sensitive to herbicide
treatments. Metribuzin can only be used pre-emergence in named early and secondearly varieties. Contact herbicides are best used before crop-emergence to reduce
potential checks in growth.

Growing crops under covers

The use of covers increases the potential vigour of weed growth and may reduce the
tolerance of the crop. The use of a pre-emergence residual treatment is needed in
most situations, but only metribuzin (eg Sencorex - check the product label for other
products) and linuron (Afalon) have a specific pre-emergence recommendation for
use in covered crops. For other products, check with the manufacturer.

Processing crops
Where crops are gown on contract for processing, the processor should be consulted
before a herbicide programme is initiated.

Other end markets

The major supermarkets may have their own limitations on pesticide use in ware
potatoes. These can vary widely. For example, one chain will not accept the use of
linuron from 2007, and other supermarkets may limit its use. However, this is an
ongoing situation and the packer should be consulted before a herbicide programme is
initiated.

British Potato Council 2007

Weed control in potatoes

Impact of soil conditions

Residual herbicides require moist soils to work well. However, excessive rainfall
or heavy early irrigation on light or stony soils can move herbicides to the potato
sets and damage the crop. Metribuzin should not be used on sands or very light
soils in certain varieties and other residuals (clomazone, linuron and
pendimethalin) can readily discolour or distort the foliage of the crop in such soils,
and stony or gravelly soils, after heavy rainfall.

Residual herbicides work poorly on cloddy tilths; a particular problem on heavier

soils.

Where growing on soils of >10% organic matter, the activity of residual

herbicides can be seriously affected. Metribuzin is the only residual herbicide
with a specific recommendation for organic soils incorporation to 100-150mm
just before or after planting. The contact/ foliar treatments can be used on
emerging weeds after crop planting.

Stone separation can affect herbicide performance where stones are left lying on
the surface.

Residual herbicides should not be applied until after final ridging-up or their effect
will be greatly diminished. Do not disturb the soil in any way, for example by
fertiliser injection, after residual herbicide use.

Precautions
Where using herbicides, following the timing and conditions of use precisely as laid
down by the manufacturer. All users must comply with the conditions of approval
relating to use of agricultural pesticides.
All users of pesticides must comply with the new relevant statutory codes of practice
for using pesticides: For England and Wales: Pesticides: Code of Practice for using
plant protection products by Defra, PSD, HSE and Welsh Assembly Government,
published by Defra (www.defra.gov.uk). For Scotland: Pesticides: Code of Practice
for using plant protection products in Scotland by Scottish Executive Environment
and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) and HSE, published by the Scottish
Executive (www.scotland.gov.uk). Northern Ireland will produce their own updated
version of these codes in due course. These codes replace and update three previous
codes of practice, and include information on the legal requirements to keep spray
records and advises on new laws regarding protection of ground water and waste
management.

Following crops
Residual herbicides may under some conditions persist to affect crops planted after
the potato crop. Check the product label carefully for such precautions. This is
particularly relevant in early growing areas. For example, in West Cornwall on soils
with more than 5% organic matter where metribuzin has been used, the soil should be
ploughed before planting summer brassicas.

British Potato Council 2007

Weed control in potatoes

Mixing herbicides

Mixtures can generally be considered between all the residual herbicides, and
between residual herbicides, and between residual herbicides and the contact
herbicides. Some mixtures are less useful than others, depending on weed
spectrum. The product label may indicate preferred mixtures.

In mixing products note the most limiting varietal, timing, soil type and conditions
recommendations, and adhere to those conditions of use.

Consult with your merchant, packer or processor before using mixtures in case a
part of the mix, or the mixture itself, is not acceptable.

Herbicide selection checklist

Variety

Soil type and conditions

Varietal haulm vigour

Weather conditions

End-use: seed/ware/processing/market

Weed species

Early/second early/maincrop

Weed growth stage

Whether grown under cover

Crop growth stage

Herbicide mixtures
Examples of standard herbicide mixtures used early in potato crops include:
Pendimethalin + clomazone

Pre-emergence

Linuron + paraquat diquat

Pre-/early post-emergence

Pendimethalin + metribuzin

Pre-emergence

Linuron + metribuzin

Pre-emergence

Metribuzin + paraquat diquat

Pre/early post-emergence

Clomazone or prosulfocarb can be added to the mixtures, or metribuzin +

flufenacet substituted for metribuzin, for cleaver control; use pre-emergence of
the crop only.

Carfentrazone-ethyl or glufosinate-ammonium can be used instead of paraquat

diquat, preferably pre-emergence of the crop.

The advent of prosulfocarb in 2007 will add to available standards:

Prosulfocarb + linuron or metribuzin

Pre-emergence

Prosulfocarb linuron or metribuzin

+ paraquat diquat

Pre/early post-emergence

These are just examples and Tables 1 and 2 can be used to assess options.

British Potato Council 2007

Weed control in potatoes

Table 1: Active ingredients and products used in potato crops

ACTIVITY/
Ingredient

Products

Marketing
Company

Crop Application
Timing

Dose/
ha

Pre
Plant
RESIDUAL
Clomazone

Linuron

Metribuzin

Gamit 36CS
(360g/)

Belchim

0.25

Various
(450/500g/)

Various

1-6/ha

Various
e.g.
Sencorex
(70% w/w)

Preem

Various
e.g. Bayer

Metribuzin+
Flufenacet

Artist
(24:17.5%
w/w)

Bayer

Pendimethalin

Various
e.g. Stomp
(400g/)

Various
(e.g. BASF)

0.33 1.5
kg/ha
(up to
2kg/ha
in
sequences)

Postem

Notes: SEED = can be used in seed crops.

Before crop emergence only for broadleaved weeds. Not on Sands, VLS or >10%
organic matter soils. Can cause transient
bleaching if heavy rain after application,
especially if seed near the surface. The crop
grows through with no effect on yield.
SEED
Dose depends on soil type and planting date.
Do not use on Sands, VLS or >10% organic
matter soils. Use pre-emergence, up to 10%
emergence in early crops or 20% emergence
in maincrop, mixed with paraquat +/- diquat
or glufosinate-ammonium. SEED
Registration for re-approval has been
applied for and is expected in early 2008,
with a maximum 950g ai/ha (possibly a
2l/ha product dose). There will be a use-up
period, so expect the current labels to be
used until early 2009.
Only certain varieties may be treated (see
label). Only use pre-emergence on first
earlies. Pre-or post-emergence in second
earlies. Maincrop: pre-emergence (except
certain varieties on Sands/VLS) or postemergence, on certain varieties only, before
shoots reach 150mm. Use incorporated
before or after planting and up to 100150mm in fen and moss soils. Avoid stony
soils. There are low dose sequential (x3)
programmes available for long periods of
weed emergence. SEED
Re-registration will begin in 2008, with
possible approval in 2009. Due to operator
exposure criteria, the submission is likely to
be for a maximum dose of 0.525gai/ha
(0.75kg product/ha) pre-emergence and
0.35kgai/ha (0.5kg product/ha) postemergence in the first instance.
Pre-emergence of crop and weeds. See label
for list of tolerant varieties. Do not treat
Maris Piper on VSL. Do not use on Sands.
Avoid stony soils. SEED
Apply up to 7 days before crop emergence.
Effectiveness reduced on soils with >6%
organic mater (OM); do not use on soils
with >10%OM.
Tank mixing with
metribuzin recommended, but note that this
effects varietal choice.
There may be a novel pendimethalin - based
mixture product being currently developed.

British Potato Council 2007

Weed control in potatoes

ACTIVITY/
Ingredient

Products

Marketing
Company

Crop Application
Timing

Dose/
ha

Pre
Plant
Prosulfocarb

Defy
(800g/)

Syngenta

Glufosinateammonium
Paraquat

Paraquat +
Diquat

Harvest/
Kaspar
(150g/)
Various
e.g.
Gramoxone
100 (200g/
Various
e.g. PDQ
(80:120g/

OTHER FOLIAR ACTING

Bentazone
Basagran
SG
(87%w/w)

Cycloxydim
+ adjuvant
Propaquizafop

Various
e.g. haser
(200g/)
Various
e.g. Falcon
(100g/)

Quizalofop-P
Tefuryl

Panarex
(40g/)

Rimsulfuron+
adjuvant

Various
e.g. Titus,
Tarot
(25% w/w)

Postem

4-5/ha

RESIDUAL + CONTACT
Metribuzin as
Various
Various
above
e.g.
e.g. Bayer
Sencorex
Mixtures of paraquat +/- diquat or carfentrazone ethyl or
glufosinate-ammonium are possible with all the residual
herbicides stated above.
CONTACT
Carfentrazone- Shark
Belchim
0.33l
ethyl

Preem

Notes: SEED = can be used in seed crops.

Apply up to soil cracking over shoots
recommended by manufacturer, but up to
10% crop emergence may be used in
practice in mix with paraquat +/- diquat. Do
not use on soils with > 10% OM. SEED
See metribuzin above.

Bayer/
Certis

3/ha

Various
e.g.
Syngenta

2-6/ha

Various
e.g.
Syngenta

2-6/ha

BASF

Various
e.g. BASF

Various
e.g
Makhteshim
Agan
Certis

Various
e.g.
Makhteshim
Agan

Best used before crop emergence on small

weeds. It can be used to 10% emergence in
maincrop and 5% emergence in earlies.
Always use with residual partner. SEED
Preferable before crop-emergence, up to
10% emergence in earlier and seed crops,
40% (and 150mm tall) maincrop emergence.
Use before shoots are 150mm tall, before
10% crop emergence in earlier and 40% in
maincrop. Preferably pre-emergence in seed
crops. SEED
Use before shoots are 150mm tall, before
10% crop emergence in earlies and 40% in
maincrop. Preferable pre-emergence in seed
crops. SEED
Use for some broad-leaved weeds on
selected varieties of second early and
maincrop. Do not use on seed crops or
earlies. Use before crop is 150mm tall.
Adjuvant assists fat-hen control in some
varieties. Read label carefully regarding
weather conditions. Consult packer/
processor before use.
Dose depends on grass weed. 8 week
harvest interval. Consult processor before
use. SEED
Dose depends on grass weed. 7 week
harvest interval on early crops, 8 weeks on
maincrop. Consult processor before use.
SEED
Dose depends on grass weed. 60 day
harvest interval. Consult processor before
use. SEED
Use for some broad-leaved weeds. Use
before any crop shoots reach 250mm height.
Mix with an approved non-ionic wetter or
adjuvant as supported by the approval
holder. For example, Makhteshim Agan will
support Torpedo or Buzz. The only
supporters of a straight noni-ionic wetter are
DeSangosse with Activator 90. Consult
processor before use.

British Potato Council 2007

 British Potato Council 2007

Timing on weeds

Black-grass
Black-bindweed
Bugloss, vipers
Charlock
Chickweed, common
Cleavers
Couch, common
Deadnettle, red
Fat-hen
Field-speedwell, common
Fools parsley
Fumitory, common
Groundsel
Hemp-nettles/ Daynettles
Knotgrass
Loose silky-bent
Marigold, corn

S
S
S
S
S
S
MS
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Seedlings

Carfentrazone-ethyl

S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Seedlings

Metribuzin post-em

MS
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
MS
MS
Seedlings

Metribuzin pre-em

S
MS
S
S
S
MR
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
-

Pre

Flufenacet +
metribuzin

S
MS
S
S
S
MS
S
S
S
S
MS
S
S
S
S
-

Pre

Prosulfocarb

MS
MR
S
S
S
S
MR
S
S
S
MS
S
-

Pre

Pendimethalin +
metribuzin

Pre

Linuron

Pre

Clomazone

Pre

10

S*
MS
S
S
S
MS
S
MR
S
MS
-

S*
MS
-

S*
MS
-

S*
MS
S
-

R
MS
S
S
S
R
MS
R
S
MS
MS
R
R
S
S

S
S
S
S
S
S
MR
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Seedlings

MS
S
S
S
MS
R
S
S
S
MS
S
S
S
S

Glufosinate-methyl

Seedlings

S
MS
S
S
MR
R
MS
S
S
R
MS
S
MS
MS

Paraquat +/- diquat

Post-em

MS
S
S
MS
MS
S
MS
MR
-

Bentazone + oil

Foliar

Cyloxydim

Contact

Propaquizafop

Post-em

Residual
+ Foliar
Quizalofop-P-tefuryl

Post-em

Residual

Table 2: Weed control of active ingredients used in potatoes

Weed control in potatoes

Rimsulfuron

Seedlings

S
S
MS
S
-S

S
S
S
-

S
S
S
-

S
S
S
-

R
R
S
S
S
S
MS
S
S
R
S
MS
S
R
R
S

S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S

Glufosinate-methyl

Carfentrazone-ethyl

S
MR S
S
S
S
S
S
R
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S MS
S
S
S
S
Seedlings

Metribuzin post-em

S
S
S
MS
MS
S
S
S
S
S
S
MS
S
MR
S
Seedlings

Metribuzin pre-em

S
S
S
R
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
MR
S

Pre

Flufenacet +
metribuzin

S
S
S
MS
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S

Pre

Prosulfocarb

S
S
S
MR
MR
S
S
S
MR

Pre

Pendimethalin +
metribuzin

S
S
S
MS
S
S
S
S
S
-?
MS
MS
S
-?
S
MR

Pre

Linuron

MS
MS
S
MS
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
-

Pre

Clomazone

MS
MR
MS
S
MS
MS
S
MS
MS
-

Pre

Cyloxydim

Bentazone + oil

11

British Potato Council 2007

* Black-grass and Rye-grass (Italian) may show some herbicide resistance to these ACC-ase inhibitor herbicides.
There is also some , very local, wild-oat resistance to such herbicides.

Timing on weeds

Mayweed, scentless
Meadow-grass, annual
Nettle, small
Nightshade, black
Pansy, field
Pennycress, field
Pimpernel, scarlet
Poppy, common
Radish, wild/ Runch
Redshank
Rye-grasses, seedling
Shepherds-purse
Sow-thistles
Spurrey, corn
Thistle, creeping
Wild-oats
Volunteer cereals
Volunteer oilseed rape

Paraquat +/- diquat

Seedlings

Foliar

Seedlings

Contact

Post-em

Residual
+ Foliar

Post-em

Residual
Quizalofop-P-tefuryl

Post-em

Seedlings

Propaquizafop

Weed control in potatoes

Rimsulfuron

Seedlings