Weed Control Programs in Roundup Ready® Maize

1. Weed Control Programs
in
Roundup Ready® Maize
Dr Norbert Muelleder
24 March 2010
Monsanto International SA

2. Global Importance of Maize
Plantings Production
(million ha) (million tons)
Maize (global) 157.0 787
Wheat (global) 224.0 684
Rice (global) 155.0 441
Grain maize (EU 27) 8.9 61
Silage maize (EU27) 5.1 209
http://www.maiskomitee.de/ (June 2009)

3. Role of Maize in the EU 27 Crop Rotation
Maize area % area
Member State
(1.000 ha) corn after corn
France 3127.6 31%
Romania 2819.6 41%
Germany 1738.9 19%
Italy 1411.7 43%
Hungary 1308.5 14%
Poland 656.7 30%
Spain 507.4 29%
Bulgaria 380.9 35%
Czech Rep. 281.3 11%
Austria 252.5 21%
Netherlands 249.1 66%
Slovakia 245.1 11%
Belgium 215.0 32%
Greece 200.0 29%
Portugal 162.0 29%
Analysis of the economic, social and environmental impacts of options for the longterm EU strategy against Diabrotica virgifera (Western Corn Rootworm), a regulated harmful organism of
maize, to support the drafting of the Commission Impact Assessment. (Final report). European Commission, DG SANCO, Rue de la Loi 200, 1049 Brussels, 04.06.2009

4. Major Weeds in European Maize Production
(Bi)Annual dicots Annual grasses Perennial dicots Perennial grasses
Amaranthus retroflexus Alopecurus myosuroides Cirsium arvense Agropyron repens
Capsella bursa-pastoris Digitaria sp. Convolvulus arvensis Cynodon dactylon
Chenopodium album Echinochloa crus-galli Cyperus rotundus
Datura stramonium Poa annua Sorghum halepense
Galium aparine Setaria sp.
Lamium sp.
Major weed control strategies in European maize production:
Matricaria sp.
• Around 50 maize selective active substances on Annex 1 of EU Directive
Polygonum sp. 91/414. General trend goes to less compounds in the future.
Solanum nigrum • Between 14 and 33 active substances registered per member state
Stellaria media • Herbicides are usually mixed to control the local weed flora
• 1 or 2 (seldom 3) herbicide applications per maize crop
Veronica sp.
• Application timings differ widely. There is a tendency towards pre-
Xanthium sp.
emergence applications in Southern Europe and to post emergence
treatements in Northern Europe.
Geranium sp.

5. Weed Competition in Maize
weed sensitive period
3 6 8 corn leaf stage

6. RR Maize Weed Control Concept 1
2. Roundup
(max. 1080 g ae)
1. residual herbicide
pre-emergence
3 6 8 corn leaf stage
1. Apply any registered residual maize herbicide at reduced rate before emergence of
corn
2. Control later emerging weeds with Roundup (max 1080 g ae) by respecting
a) weed height: less than 10 cm
b) corn growth stage: latest at 3 leaf stage
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7. RR Maize Weed Control Concept 2
2. Roundup (max. 1080 g ae)
1. tank mix Roundup (max. 1080 only if neccessary
g ae) and residual herbicide
3 6 8 corn leaf stage
1. Apply a tank mix of Roundup and a compatible residual maize herbicide (at reduced
rate) at 3 leaf stage of corn
2. In case of high weed pressure apply Roundup again
In both cases the application timing is triggered like in concept 1 by weed height (less
than 10 cm) and crop growth stage
7

8. RR Maize Weed Control Concept 3
2. Roundup
1. Roundup (max. 1080 g ae)
(max. 1080 g ae)
3 6 8 corn leaf stage
1. Apply Roundup at 3 leaf stage of corn
2. Depending on weed pressure apply Roundup a second time latest at 8 leaf stage
of corn
In both cases the application timing is triggered by weed height (less than 10 cm) and
crop growth stage
(the pure Roundup concept is a prerequisite to register Roundup over the top in Roundup Ready maize)
8

9. RR Maize Weed Control Concept 4
Roundup
(max. 1440 g ae)
8 corn leaf stage
Especially in warmer climates the late control of perennial weeds like Convolvulus arvensis is
a major concern in maize production
The Roundup Ready system in maize offers a new solution for this problem
Start with concept 1 to 3 at max 720 g ae of Roundup at the 1st application
Apply 1440 g ae of Roundup latest at 8 leaf stage of corn when perennial weeds have
sufficient leaf area for take up of glyphosate 9

10. Tested Partner Herbicides for RR corn
Brand name(s) Active ingredient HRAC / Herbicide class Company
Harness, Guardian Acetochlor K3 / Chloroacetamides Monsanto / Dow
Dual Gold s-Metolachlor K3 / Chloroacetamides Syngenta
Spectrum, Frontier Dimethenamid-p K3 / Chloroacetamides BASF
Successor Pethoxamid K3 / Chloroacetamides Staehler Int.
Click, Chac,…. Terbuthylazine C1 / PS II Inhibitor several
Clio Topramezone F2 / Inh. of 4-HPPD BASF
Merlin / Emerode Isoxaflutol F2 / Inh. of 4-HPPD Bayer
Banvel Dicamba O / Benzoic acid Syngenta
Stomp SC Pendimethalin K1 / Dinitroaniline BASF
10

11. EU 27 RR Maize Field Trial Activities (stripes)
S
DK RUS
UK
IRL
PL
NL
D UA
CZ
SK
A
H
F CH RO
BG
I
P ES GR
11

12. Weed control in RR Maize in Northern Europe
comparison of pre-emergence versus full post program (5 trials, CZ 2009)
% control
t /ha

13. Weed control in RR Maize in Southern Europe
comparison of pre-emergence and post program (3 trials, Spain 2009)
% control
t /ha

14. Glyphosate Resistant Major Weeds in European
Weed Biotypes Maize Production
Amaranthus palmeri Agropyron repens Polygonum sp.
Amaranthus rudis Alopecurus myosuroides Setaria sp.
Ambrosia artemisiifolia Amaranthus retroflexus Solanum nigrum
Ambrosia trifida Capsella bursa-pastoris Sorghum halepense
Conyza bonariensis Chenopodium album Stellaria media
Conyza canadensis Cirsium arvense Veronica sp.
Digitaria insularis Convolvulus arvensis Xanthium sp.
Echinochloa colona Cynodon dactylon
Eleusine indica Cyperus rotundus
Euphorbia heterophylla Datura stramonium
Kochia scoparia Digitaria ssp.
Lolium multiflorum Echinochloa crus-galli
Lolium rigidum Galium aparine
Parthenium hysterophorus Geranium sp.
Plantago lanceolata Lamium sp.
Sorghum halepense Matricaria sp.
Urochloa panicoides Poa annua

15. Risks for the Sustainability of Integrated Weed
Management
Risk Level
Management Option LOW MODERATE HIGH
> 2 modes of 2 modes of 1 mode of
Herbicide use in cropping system action action action
Cultural,
Cultural and
Weed control in cropping system mechanical and
chemical
Chemical only
chemical
Same mode of action per season Once More than once Many times
Cropping system Full rotation Limited rotation No rotation
Resistance status to mode of action Unknown Limited Common
Weed infestation Low Moderate High
Control in last 3 years Good Declining Poor
Proper usage (rate / timing) Yes Unsure No
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16. Sustainability of Integrated Weed Management in current European
Maize Production ( ) compared to RR system ( )
Risk Level
Management Option LOW MODERATE HIGH
> 2 modes of 2 modes of 1 mode of
Herbicide use in cropping system action action action
Cultural,
Cultural and
Weed control in cropping system mechanical and
chemical
Chemical only
chemical
Same mode of action per season Once More than once Many times
Cropping system Full rotation Limited rotation No rotation
Resistance status to mode of action Unknown Limited Common
Weed infestation Low Moderate High
Control in last 3 years Good Declining Poor
Proper usage (rate / timing) Yes Unsure No
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17. Summary
• Maize production is of increasing importance for food and feed
supply from a worldwide and a European perspective.
• A major threat to maize productivity is weed competition for water,
nutrients and light in early growth stages.
– Best possible weed control is necessary to protect the yield potential of the
crop irrespective of the production system.
• The Roundup Ready maize system offers 4 additional weed control
strategies to the maize production in Europe.
• Roundup Ready maize is a flexible tool for consistent and selective
weed control in Europe that protects the yield potential of the crop.
• Roundup Ready maize will increase in a cost effective way the
sustainability of integrated weed management in European farming
by adding a mode of action for weed control
• The combination of Roundup Ready maize with other traits (insect
protection, drought tolerance,..) will address further challenges in
European agriculture.

18. in case you are curious: this is just a white whole
NK 603 launch in Europe – June 2008 - NM