Di QuattroPlant Protection Product ComparisonPlant Protection Product ComparisonReport inaccuraciesReport inaccuracies

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.
Di-Quattro is a total herbicide containing 200 g/L diquat ion as the dibromide salt. It is used mainly for haulm destruction and desiccation of potato crops in order to aid mechanical harvesting.

Potato
Rate of use: Herbicide Use: Maximum 2 L/ha in 200-500 litres water/ha
Timing: For weed control between the rows. Early crops may be treated at 10% emergence. Main crops may be treated up to 40% emergence. Do not apply after emergence to crops growing from diseased seed or very small tubers, or under very hot dry conditions.
Rate of use: Desiccant Use: Maximum individual dose: 4 L/ha in 200-500 litres water/ha (the 500 L/ha rate should be used when the haulm is dense). Maximum total dose per crop: 5 L/ha
Timing: For desiccant use. Apply when tubers are the correct size. If potatoes are to be stored, allow 14 days between spraying and harvest to allow skins to set. Re-growth may occur if seed crops are desiccated early.

RESTRICTIONS OR WARNING
Do not apply during or shortly after dry periods as this may damage potato tubers (see section on soil moisture below).
If the potatoes are to be stored, wait 14 days after last treatment before harvesting the crop to allow the skins to set.
Extreme care should be taken to avoid spray drift as this can severely damage neighbouring crops or plants.

RESISTANCE
Diquat (and paraquat) belong to the class of herbicides known as bipyridyls. Strains of Annual Meadow-grass and American Willow herb resistant to paraquat have been found in some hop yards/gardens and also top and soft fruit orchards. Where paraquat resistant strains are present Di-Quattro may not give full control of these weeds.

APPLICATION METHOD
Tractor mounted/trailed sprayer. Can also be applied by knapsack sprayer (dilution rate 10 ml/L water for herbicide use or 20 ml/L for desiccant use). For knapsack application, using standard nozzles appropriately calibrated, each litre will treat 40m2 (2 L/ha in 200 Litre/hectare water or 4 L/ha in 200 Litre/hectare water).

CROP-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
POTATO – Weed Control in Rows & Haulm Desiccation
It is essential to check the soil moisture around the tubers before spraying.
DO NOT ADD ANY WETER OR ADJUVANT

Soil Moisture
Di-Quattro must not be applied when the Soil Moisture Deficits (SMD) is greater than 33-83 mm (depending on soil and crop type) as defined by MORECS (Meteorological Office Rainfall and Evaporation Calculation System). The table below shows the Maximum Soil Moisture Deficit for Safe Spraying, beyond which damage is likely to occur. Seek professional advice in case of doubt.

To reduce the risk of damage, applications should be made as follows:
Medium, Heavy and Organic soils – when 13 mm of rain has fallen (or the equivalent irrigation) in the previous 5 days and soil is moist around the tubers.
Sandy, Light and Stony soils - when 13 mm of rain has fallen (or the equivalent irrigation) in the previous 2 days and soil is moist around the tubers.

Soil moisture around the tubers should be assessed to ensure rainfall or irrigation has penetrated below tuber depth. It is essential all parts of the field comply with this requirement, especially where soil types vary within the same field.

Apply in bright conditions, ideally mid-morning or mid-afternoon and when humidity is low. Damage to tubers may be caused if applied during or shortly after dry periods. When mist, light rain or heavy dew is likely, the risk of damage is increased. DO NOT APPLY when soil is dry

APPLICATION
To be applied using a conventional crop sprayer using a MEDIUM spray (as defined by the BCPC system). Add the required quantity of Di-Quattro to a nine tenths filed spray tank with continuous agitation, then add the remaining volume of water. Spray immediately after mixing and continue agitation during spraying. Avoid spray drift. Do not apply through mist-blowers. Wash out the sprayer thoroughly with water immediately after use.

OTHER CROP DESICCATION USES
Di-Quattro can also be used as desiccant in other crops. However this does not advance maturity, but acts as a harvesting aid only. When applied to unripened crops, seeds with low specific weight and poor germination will result.

OILSEED RAPE
Rate of Use: 3 L/ha in 250-500 litres water/ha. The higher water volume should be used in dense growth (i.e. tall or lodge crops). Add a non-ionic surfactant adjuvant that is not an organosilicone in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Timing
Apply prior to direct combining. Early application should be avoided, however if application is too late yield may be lost from pod shatter.
Apply when seed colour varies on the stem as follows:
Bottom third - all seeds are dark brown/black
Middle third - 90% in are reddish brown or dark brown, with a few black and 10% of the seeds are green, firm and pliable
Top third - more than half the seeds in the top third are still green and firm, with just a few seeds brown/black.

This stage is usually reached 2-3 days later than wind-rowing would normally have started.
If crop stems are leaning over, seeds on the upper surface will ripen ahead of the shaded seeds. In this situation, spray when all seeds on the upper surface is red-brown to dark brown. Do not wait for the shaded seed to ripen.
Avoid application on thin, standing crops and on exposed sites as losses can occur in windy weather between spraying and combining. Normal or heavy leaning crops are ideal for desiccation with Di-Quattro.
DO NOT apply when the crop is immature or past the recommended stage of maturity

Harvest
Harvest can usually begin 7 to 14 days after spraying. Check moisture content from 5 days after treatment. Combining can normally begin when seeds have a moisture content of 12-15% and are mature and black.

PEAS
(dry harvest) Rate of Use: 2-3 L/ha in 200-500 litres water/ha

Timing
Desiccate when the overall seed moisture content is less than 45%.
Correct time of application is as follows:
Bottom pods: Yellow/brown, paper thin. Peas should have moisture content of 45% or less and feel quite hard.
Middle pods: Pitted and crinkled, becoming dry. Peas are rubbery (can be squeezed without splitting).
Top pods: Fleshy, slightly pitted and green, or beginning to turn yellow. Peas split if squeezed

Do not spray on immature crops as this may result in the top immature pods containing shrivelled peas which will reduce the yield. Crop may then take longer to desiccate and stems may snap, causing the haulm to collapse. If desiccation is left too late, there is a risk of the bottom pods shattering and reducing yield.

Where crops are to be used as animal feed then add a non-ionic surfactant adjuvant that is not an organosilicone in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Where crops are to be used for human consumption, consult your processor before application and particularly before adding any wetter.

Harvest
Direct combining should begin 7 to 10 days after spraying, or as soon as desiccation is complete. Haulm must be left in place for at least 4 days before being fed to livestock.

FIELD BEANS
Rate of Use: 3 L/ha in 200-500 litres water/ha.
Add a non-ionic surfactant adjuvant that is not an organosilicone in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Timing
Spray when crop is mature and most of the pods are black, in order to desiccate both haulm and weeds.
Harvest
Can begin 7 to 10 days after spraying.

LODGED BARLEY & OATS (for livestock feeding only)
Rate of Use: 2-4 L/ha in 200-500 litres water/ha, as follows:
2 L/ha for common chickweed
3 L/ha for cereal re-growth and broad leaved weeds
4 L/ha where cleavers and common couch are dominant.
Add a non-ionic surfactant adjuvant that is not an organosilicone in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Timing
Apply when crop is mature for combining. Allow 4 days after treatment before combining.
Harvest
Combining should start as soon as desiccation is complete (normally 4 – 7 days). Re-growth of grass weeds may occur if harvest is delayed. Treated grain and straw may be safely fed to livestock from 4 days after spraying

LINSEEDS
Rate of Use: 3 L/ha in 300-500 litres water/ha Add a non-ionic surfactant adjuvant that is not an organosilicone in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Timing
Apply at entire crop maturity, when most of the seeds are dark brown and the seed within is loose and rattles in the pod. Ideally yellowing of most mature stems (just below the capsule cluster) will have already begun.

Harvest
Direct combining can begin 10-20 days after spraying and as soon as seed moisture is below 14%. For best results, harvest in dry, sunny weather using a sharp knife to cut the crop as high as possible without missing seed capsules on the shortest stems.

OTHER WEED CONTROL USES (ROW CROPS)
Di-Quattro can be used for post emergence control of common chickweed in various outdoor edible and non-edible crops, including sugar beet, bulbs and vegetable crops. Apply 2 L/ha in 200-500 litres water/ha. Higher rates of water should be used where weeds are larger or dense. Add a non-ionic surfactant adjuvant that is not an organosilicone in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.