MeristoPlant Protection Product ComparisonPlant Protection Product ComparisonReport inaccuraciesReport inaccuracies

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

GENERAL INFORMATION
MERISTO contains mesotrione a foliar applied herbicide for selective control of annual broad-leaved weeds. The activity of MERISTO is mostly by foliar uptake and to some extent by soil uptake. MERISTO is rapidly absorbed through the leaves and moves to the growing point.

Crops
For use only as a herbicide for the control of weeds in forage and grain maize. DO NOT USE on forage and grain maize seed crops or on sweet corn varieties.

Spray timing
Always inspect crop and weed growth stage immediately before spraying. For the best results treat young weed seedlings. See weed control tables for application details.

CONDITIONS FOR USE
Crops
Forage and grain maize may be sprayed any time from the two to eight leaf stage.

Weather
For the best results MERISTO should be applied when the weeds are actively growing i.e. in warm humid weather with adequate soil moisture. Treatment in poor growing conditions or in dry soil may give less reliable control. Do not spray when weed or crop foliage is wet.

AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE
It is not recommended to spray crops suffering stress e.g. when in very cold or drought conditions, or when wide temperature fluctuations are expected or excessive rainfall is expected to follow application. Under these adverse conditions mild to moderate chlorosis may be observed on sprayed leaves. This effect is usually transient and does not affect yield. Take extreme care to avoid drift onto dicotyledonous plants outside the target area. Take extreme care to avoid drift onto all crops outside the target area, otherwise crop damage will result. Ensure that spray swaths are matched accurately and do not overlap.

RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT
MERISTO is a 4-HPPD inhibitor, disrupting development of plant pigments which are essential for photosynthesis. This inhibition causes leaf chlorosis and eventual death of sensitive weed species. It’s mode of action is different from other herbicide groups, and there is no known cross resistance in weeds which exhibit reduced sensitivity to other herbicides. Weed control may be reduced if strains of individual species less sensitive to MERISTO develop. The use of MERISTO in programmes or tank mixtures with a broad-leaved herbicide possessing a different mode of action will reduce the likelihood of resistance developing in broad-leaved weeds e.g. Fat hen, Black nightshade, Common amaranth. At the present time there is no similar mode of action in herbicides for crops other than maize and therefore crop rotation will also delay the onset of any resistance. Where continuous maize is grown the use of MERISTO for more than two seasons should be avoided.

Application
Good spray cover is essential and care should be taken to ensure that the sprayer has a matched set of nozzles, the machine is correctly calibrated and adjusted to the correct height above the crop. Apply using a medium quality spray (BCPC) at a pressure of at least 2 bar. Apply through conventional crop spraying equipment.

Preparation of the spray
Shake the MERISTO container before opening. Half-fill the spray tank with clean water, add the required amount of MERISTO and agitate while filling the tank. On emptying the container, RINSE CONTAINER THOROUGHLY by using an integrated pressure rinsing device or manually rinsing three times. Add washings to sprayer at time of filling and dispose of container safely. Continue agitation during spraying.

Volume of water
Even cover of the weeds is essential. Use in a recomended 200 to 300 litres (maximum) of water per hectare. The lower rate is preferable but the higher volume may be necessary where there are dense or well developed weed populations.

Application methods
Apply through a conventional field crop sprayer using a pressure of 2-3 bars. Ensure the sprayer is correctly calibrated before use. Do not leave spray liquid in the sprayer for long periods (i.e. overnight).

After Use
It is important to wash equipment thoroughly after use to remove all traces of MERISTO as even small amounts may cause damage to crops. Rinse inside of tank with clean water using at least one tenth of the spray tank volume. After flushing through pump and spray lines, drain and repeat procedure. Disposal of spray tank washings should be in accordance with local, state or national legislation.