Herbicide residue may limit cropping options this year in areas that suffered drought last year.
Certain herbicides applied in 2002 may not have received rain soon enough to complete their breakdown before seeding begins this spring.
“The herbicide breakdown process has three major requirements: moisture, warm soil temperatures and enough time under optimal temperatures and moisture to thoroughly degrade the herbicide and thus allow sensitive crops to grow safely,” said Clark Brenzil, weed control specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture.
“This complex process is also affected by factors such as soil pH.”
Even in areas where it rained in the second week of August, the moisture may have been too late, because temperatures also dropped dramatically.
“There is no remedial process for the problem of pesticide carryover,” Brenzil said. “Nothing will correct it. Only time.”
Farmers in areas at risk of herbicide carryover can ask the Alberta Research Council in Vegreville to conduct a soil bioassay test. Phone 780-632-8217 for more information.
