Weeds

Grochem launches Beloukha, a new organic herbicide

Details: By Grochem

Leading supplier, Grochem Australia, has launched a new non-selective, organic herbicide in a major breakthrough for the horticulture sector.
Beloukha herbicide gives growers and their advisers a naturally derived option for effectively managing broadleaf and grass weeds around orchards, vineyards, nurseries and a host of other situations.

The new herbicide has organic certification from the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA).
Alternative for weed management
Welcoming the launch of Beloukha in Australia, Grochem Australia’s general manager Ben Coombe described the new herbicide as a welcome alternative for weed management.
“Beloukha is fast acting, non-selective, biodegradable and foliar applied,” he said.
“It is based on 680 g/L nonanoic acid derived from naturally occurring substances found in sunflowers.”
Beloukha works best on a wide range of seedling and young annual and perennial weeds such as blue top, capeweed, clover, couch grass, fat hen, nut grass, potato weed and sow thistle.
Mr Coombe said Beloukha has the highest loading of nonanoic acid on the market, which means lower use rates per hectare, fewer drums and more efficient storage and transport.
Contact herbicide
The herbicide is fast acting with visible effects on green plant tissue within hours of application.
“This is a contact herbicide which attacks and destroys the cell membranes of the plant epidermis, causing rapid burndown of both annual and perennial broadleaf and grass weeds,” Mr Coombe said.
“For the best results, we recommend flexible rates of 6 – 8 L/100L of water mixed in 200 to 300 litres of water per hectare when young weeds are most susceptible at the 4 – 8 leaf stage.”
Established and perennial weeds may require a second application seven days later.
Biodegradable
Even though Beloukha is tough on weeds, it is biodegradable, breaking down into carbon dioxide and water.
“We see Beloukha having a key role to play for band spraying in orchards and vineyards, for general purpose weed control, and for spot spraying,” Mr Coombe said.
This latest addition to the Grochem Australia range is available in 1L, 5L, 20L, 200L and 1000L containers.