BlutronPlant Protection Product ComparisonPlant Protection Product ComparisonReport inaccuraciesReport inaccuracies

A liquid suspension formulation containing 250 g/litre isoproturon and 50 g/litre diflufenican. For the control of annual meadow-grass and annual broad-leaved weeds in winter wheat, winter barley, winter rye and triticale

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
IMPORTANT: This information is approved as part of the Product Label. All instructions within this section must be read carefully in order to obtain safe and successful use of this product.

RESTRICTIONS
Only treat healthy crops that are unaffected by frost, disease, pests or nutrient deficiency.
Crops should be drilled at least 25mm deep and be well covered by soil.
Certain soil conditions can adversely affect herbicidal performance.
Frost within four weeks of treatment may lead to crop damage.
Spray when crops are actively growing in moist soil. Prolonged dry weather after spraying will reduce weed control, especially grass weeds germinating below the surface layer.
DO NOT roll or harrow within seven days prior to treatment or at any time afterwards.
DO NOT apply to durum wheat, spring wheat, spring barley, spring rye, oats, undersown cereals or those to be undersown.
Do not treat broadcast crops as uncovered seed may be damaged.
Do not roll autumn treated crops until the spring.
Crops sown in early autumn (e.g September) may be damaged if treatment immediately precedes a period of rapid growth in the autumn • Ensure that spray swaths do not overlap.
Extreme care must be taken to avoid spray drift onto noncrop plants outside of the target area
The maximum concentration must not exceed 1 litre of product in 300 litres of water.

RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT
Strains of some annual grasses (e.g. black-grass, wild-oats and Italian rye-grass) have developed resistance to herbicides which may lead to poor control. A strategy for preventing and managing such resistance should be adopted. Guidelines have been produced by the Weed Resistance Action Group (WRAG) and copies are available from Teagasc distributor, crop adviser or product manufacturer. Use a long-term strategy for the prevention and management of herbicide resistant weeds and follow the published WRAG guidelines. Suitable components of an effective strategy will include the following measures and practices: Make maximum use of complementary weed control practices and cultural methods of control including crop rotation, ploughing, the use of stale seedbed techniques and delayed drilling wherever possible. Do not use Blutron as the only means of weed control on crops in two consecutive seasons. Use grass and broadleaved weed control products with alternative modes of action throughout the rotation. Check weed populations regularly, monitor any incidence of poor control, confirm which herbicides the weeds are resistant to and take appropriate action. Report any unexpected results to Agform Ltd. Use the correct spray nozzles to maximize coverage and implement good spraying practices.

CROP SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Winter wheat, winter barley, winter rye and triticale
Apply pre-emergence or early post-emergence of the crop in the autumn or spring. Earlier spraying is desirable as more variable results are seen from spring applications. Apply Blutron at 1.0 litres of product in 300 - 400 litres of water per ha as an autumn or spring treatment. Apply pre- or post-emergence of the crop. The latest time of application is before second node detectable stage (GS32). Best results will be obtained from applications made pre-emergence or early post-emergence of the weeds All commercially available varieties of winter wheat, winter barley, winter rye and triticale may be treated pre- or postemergence.

SOILS
Blutron may be used on all soil types except those containing more than 10% organic matter. Crop safety and weed control can be affected by certain factors.
Best results are achieved from crops grown on a firm, fine seedbeds, with clods no greater than fist size.
Weed control may be improved by burying and dispersing previous crop and weed residues to a depth of at least 150mm
Crop safety and weed control may be reduced on open, free-draining or stony soils if heavy rain falls soon after treatment.
Crops on waterlogged or poorly drained soils should not be treated.
DO NOT USE on cracked soils or where there is any risk of run-off through drains.
DO NOT USE on sands or very stony or gravelly soils as there is a risk of crop damage.
It is possible that on soils with a high Kd factor (>6) that efficacy will be reduced.

FOLLOWING CROPS IN THE EVENT OF CROP FAILURE
If a crop treated with Blutron fails for any reason, observe the instructions in the table below for planting a following crop

CROP TO BE PLANTED CROP TO BE PLANTED CROP TO BE PLANTED / CULTIVATION AND TIMING REQUIRED PRIOR TO PLANTING FOLLOWING CROP
Winter Wheat
Use normal cultivations as necessary, ploughing is not required. Re-drill at any time

Winter Barley
The soil must be ploughed prior to redrilling. Re-drill at any time

Spring Wheat, Spring Barley Spring Oilseed Rape, Peas Spring Field Beans, Sugar Beet Potatoes, Carrots, Edible Brassicas, Onions. 
The soil must be ploughed and an interval of at least 20 weeks must elapse prior to drilling these spring-sown crops

Any other crop not listed above
Do not re-drill with any crop not listed above until the autumn after treatment.

FOLLOWING CROPS IN THE ROTATION
Where Blutron or any other product containing diflufenican has been applied to successive cereal crops, levels of diflufenican will build up in the soil. In these circumstances, ploughing with complete inversion of the furrow must take place before planting any following non-cereal crop. Even where ploughing is carried out there is a risk of damage to following crops of onions, leek and related species, or clover. If diflufenican products are applied over several years, other crops may be affected. Users who rent out their land to growers of these crops should not use products containing diflufenican in successive years prior to renting out the land.

CROPPING IN THE NORMAL ROTATION – AUTUMN CROPS
CROP TO BE PLANTED IN THE AUTUMN FOLLOWING A CROP TREATED WITH BLUTRON PLUS / CULTIVATIONS REQUIRED
Sugar beet seed crops, Winter onions
The soil must be ploughed to a depth of at least 15 cm with complete inversion of the furrow slice and avoiding excessive soil compaction

Leaf brassicae Field beans Winter oilseed rap
Plough or cultivate to a depth of at least 15 cm ensuring the soil is mixed thoroughly

Winter Cereals
Plough or cultivate to a depth of at least 15 cm and drill normally

Any other crop not listed above
Do not plant any crop not listed

CROPPING IN THE NORMAL ROTATION – SPRING PLANTED CROPS
The land treated with Blutron must be ploughed prior to planting any spring crop except cereal crops, leaf brassicae, field beans or oilseed rape

MIXING AND SPRAYING
Apply through tractor mounted or trailed hydraulic sprayer fitter with flat fan nozzles. Apply as a medium spray as defined by BCPC. Half fill the sprayer tank with clean water and begin agitation. Before use, shake the container well, then add the required quantity into the spray tank and allow to disperse fully. Rinse the container thoroughly by using an integrated pressure rinsing device or manually rinsing three times. Add the washings to the sprayer and continue agitation whilst topping up the tank with water to the required level. Continue agitation until the mix is sprayed out. Spray immediately after mixing, do not allow the mixture to stand. If tank-mixes are used, add each product to the sprayer tank separately, and follow any specific instructions on the order of mixing for the partner product(s). If an induction bowl or suction probe filling system is to be used, consult the instructions from the manufacturers of the equipment.

Tank cleaning procedure
1. Drain tank completely then flush tank, boom and hoses with clean water. Drain again.
2. Half fill the tank with clean water and add an ammonia based solution (All Clear Extra, 1.0 litre per 200 litres water). Flush through boom and hoses and then allow to stand for 10 minutes with agitation. Drain completely.
3. To remove traces of detergent, rinse the tank with clean water and flush through booms and hoses.