Milestone – a selective herbicide for the control of important grasses and broadleaved weeds in winter oilseed rape

Abstract

MilestoneTM herbicide contains the active substance propyzamide (500 g/L) and aminopyralid (5.3 g a.e./L) and is formulated as a suspension concentrate (SC). Registration for Milestone for the use in winter oilseed rape was granted in Germany in July 2014. The active substance propyzamide is well known from the product KerbTM FLO (containing 500 g/L propyzamide, suspension concentrate, SC) which is widely used in winter oilseed rape (WITTROCK et al., 2008). Aminopyralid is formulated in the commercial product Runway (clopyralid + picloram + aminopyralid). Milestone is applied with a use rate of 1.5 L/ha as a post-emergence herbicide from growth stage BBCH 14 of the crop at the beginning of November until February. Kerb FLO is applied with a use rate of 1.875 L/ha at the same timing. The efficacy of Milestone and Kerb FLO was tested in randomised and replicated plot trials in Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Milestone and Kerb FLO showed comparable and very high control levels against monocotyledonous species such as Alopecurus myosuroides, Apera spica-venti, Bromus species and volunteer cereals. Milestone shows a broader spectrum of activity vs. Kerb FLO against dicotyledonous weeds such as Matricaria chamomilla, Papaver rhoeas and Centaurea cyanus. The use of Milestone in dense crops (as the situation was in autumn 2014 for many areas in Germany) shows very high efficacy levels as well. The comparison of various application timings between end of October until beginning of December confirms the application date early November for best results. Milestone controls herbicide-resistant weed populations and can be considered an important part of a resistance management program not only in winter oilseed rape but as a component of an integrated weed management strategy in cropping systems.

Keywords

• Aminopyralid
• Kerb FLO
• Milestone
• propyzamide
• winter oilseed rape