KernelPlant 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.

 

Kernel is an effective herbicide when used as directed against most annual and perennial grasses and broad-leaved weeds.

Kernel is translocated from the treated leaves throughout the plant and to underground roots, rhizomes and stolons. Symptoms such as gradual wilting and yellowing of foliage are rapidly visible in grass weeds but are slower to appear in broad-leaved weeds.

 

For best results a rain-free period of 6 hours (and preferably 24 hours) is required after application of Kernel.

Extreme care should be taken to avoid spray drift as this can severely damage or destroy neighbouring crops or plants.

Action of Kernel will be slower in cooler weather. It should not be used under frosty conditions while weed growth is reduced by natural senescence.

Treating weeds which are suffering from drought stress may result in reduced efficacy.

 

Lime, fertilisers or other pesticides should not be applied for at least 5 days before and after application of Kernel.

 

Kernel is inactivated on contact with soil by binding to soil particles. All crops may be planted or sown at the intervals specified in ‘Conditions of Use’ following treatment. A slight growth retardation following germination may be seen if seeds are sown by direct drilling amongst decaying vegetation, roots, rhizomes or stolons.

 

DO NOT STORE, MIX OR APPLY THIS PRODUCT FROM AN UNLINED OR GALVANISED STEEL TANK. Do not leave mixtures in spray tanks over long periods. Ensure that spray tanks are always thoroughly ventilated.

 

It is important when treating perennial weeds that there is full emergence of healthy green foliage and active growth at the time of application.

The efficacy of this product is increased if the leaf surface for absorption is large. Common Couch is particularly susceptible at the 4-5 leaf stage, where there is about 10- 15 cm of new growth, when tillering and new rhizome growth is starting.

Most perennial broad-leaved weeds are particularly susceptible to treatment when they are actively growing and shortly before flowering.

Annual weeds should be growing actively at the time of treatment. Grasses should have at least 5cm of growth. Broad-leaved weeds should have at least two sizeable true leaves.

Under conditions of drought, flooding, frost or high temperatures, disease or insect damage or weeds heavily covered with dust, where plant growth is restricted the efficacy of this product will be reduced.

 

NEVER APPLY PRE-HARVEST TREATMENTS TO CROPS GROWN FOR SEED. Barley intended for brewing and crops grown on contract should only be treated following approval from the grain merchant. Consult processor before using on crops intended for processing.

 

KERNEL may be applied to all areas which will be planted with food and feed crops, pre-harvest to wheat and oats intended for milling and barley intended for brewing. To improve efficacy when Kernel is used at rates of 1.5 l/ha or less, a suitable authorised adjuvant should be added to the spray tank in edible crops (cereals only). Do not add extra adjuvant if applying through a rotary atomiser.

 

Use any equipment which can apply at 80-250 litres/ha as a Medium or Coarse spray (as defined by BCPC) with a pressure of 1.5-2.5 bar and 80° or 110° nozzles. Pre-harvest applications should be made using high clearance tractors with narrow wheels and crop dividers, where the spray boom can be raised to just above the top of the crop.

For most applications, 200-250 litres of water/ha should be used. Spray pressure (typically 1.5-2.5 bar) should be adjusted and related to tractor speed, water volume and nozzle type. However, specific low-volume nozzles may be used with a reduced water volume of 80-120 litres.

When using low volume nozzles, spray pressure and tractor speed should be adjusted. A typical speed range would be 4-9 km/hour. When applying pre-harvest to crops, a low speed to avoid boom bounce is recommended.

All spray equipment should be calibrated before use, particularly if nozzles have been changed. Check at least one nozzle from each side of the boom. Before starting spraying, check that the boom is level, the boom height is correct for the intended application, and all the nozzles on the boom are aligned at the correct angle to the forward direction of the tractor.

  

Select one of the following: CDA Boom and CDA Lightweight, Microdrop, Girojet, Dual-Option sprayer, Hydraspin.

Applications should be made using a water volume of 40 l/ha (20 l/ha for aquatic applications) at a speed of 4-9 km/hour and a droplet setting of 200-300 microns (equivalent to the BCPC definitions of ‘Medium’ or ‘Coarse’). The spray droplet spectrum produced by the atomiser must have a minimum Volume Median Diameter (VMD) of 200 microns. The equipment should be correctly calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

 

Knapsack sprayers (e.g. Cooper Pegler Classic / Series 2000) may be used in forestry, orchards, set-aside land, land not intended to bear vegetation and pre-cultivation. Spray volumes normally range from 200-300 litres/ha but may be reduced to 100-150 litres/ha if low volume nozzles have been fitted. Spray quality should be ‘Medium’ or ‘Coarse’ as defined by BCPC.

An application rate of 3 litres/ha and a water volume of 200 litres/ha represents a 1.5% concentration of Kernel. A knapsack sprayer with a total capacity of 10 litres thus requires 150 ml of Kernel and 9.85 litres of water. Similarly if the application rate is 4.5 litres/ha, the dilution is 225 ml of Kernel in 9.775 litres of water. A 10-litre sprayer will cover an area of 500 sq. metres at a 1 metre/second walking pace and a 1-metre wide spray swath.

  

The applicator must be fitted with a solid stream nozzle, either a Spraying Systems 0006 or a Delavan LF 6.0. Set the gun to apply 2ml of neat KERNEL per cut.

  

The applicator must be fitted with a solid stream nozzle, either a Spraying Systems 0006 or a Delavan LF 6.0. Set the gun to apply 2ml of neat Kernel per cut.

 

Before using KERNEL for control of aquatic weeds in or near waterways read the official recommendations entitled “Guidelines for the use of Herbicides on weeds in or near Watercourses and Lakes”. This document may be obtained from DEFRA, the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD), The Department of Agriculture Northern Ireland and the National Assembly for Wales Agricultural Department (NAWAD).

Consult the appropriate water regulatory body (Environment Agency/Scottish Environment Protection Agency) before applying KERNEL for control of weeds in or near waterways. Maximum permitted concentration should not exceed 0.2 parts per million, unless otherwise specified by the appropriate water regulatory body (Environment Agency/Scottish Environment Protection Agency).

When using KERNEL following label recommendations, water subjected to spray drift may immediately be used for irrigation.

 

Half fill clean spray tank with clean water, add required quantity of product and mix well: add remaining water. Do NOT use mechanical agitators. Place the filling hose below water level to prevent excessive foaming and remove immediately after filling to prevent backsiphoning.

When tank-mixing with other products recommended on the label add the other product before adding KERNEL, then add the remaining water.

  

It is essential to thoroughly clean out spray tanks, pumps and pipelines and nozzle and disc assemblies with a recommended detergent cleaner between applying this product and other pesticides, to avoid contamination from pesticide residues.