Takes herbicide performance to the max
Secure residual herbicide success with Backrow Max – a specialist activator adjuvant that, come rain or shine, takes herbicide performance to the max.
High performing residual herbicides are crucial to keep problem weeds at bay. Optimising coverage across the soil and maximising herbicide longevity and uptake in the weed germination zone is vital. But dry conditions at drilling and following application can cause residual herbicides to fail, whilst heavy rainfall can cause them to leach, putting both weed control and crop / groundwater safety at risk. Adding Backrow Max pre- and peri-emergence secures residual herbicide performance in the toughest of weather conditions, helping you take down yield-robbing weeds once and for all.
Backrow Max key benefits:
- More targeted application
- Improves herbicide performance in dry conditions
- Improves herbicide performance in wet conditions
- Protects crop & groundwater safety after heavy rainfall
Improves performance in dry conditions
Backrow Max lowers herbicide dependency on rainfall for activation and uptake in to weeds.
Up to 20% better weed control in Spring Cereals
Trials have shown Backrow Max can increase weed control in dry conditions by as much as 20%.
Research has shown that Backrow Max improves the performance of residual herbicides in dry soils by increasing moisture retention. This is useful because dry conditions can cause residual herbicides to fail as soil moisture plays a crucial role in herbicide activation and uptake.
The trials show that although Backrow Max won’t solve the problem of no rain for weeks on end, adding it in with your residual herbicide sprays can at least reduce dependancy on it. With increasingly dry conditions at spring drilling and early autumn, Backrow Max gives your herbicide the best possible chance of performing to its potential.
Up to 22% extra black-grass control in Winter Wheat
Research has shown just how good Backrow Max is at moisture & chemical retention
33% increase in soil moisture retention & 62% reduction in chemical leaching
Improves performance in wet conditions
18% extra black-grass control in Winter Barley
Trials have shown Backrow Max can increase weed control in wet conditions by as much as 18%.
With heavy rainfall after application, a high percentage of your residual herbicides can leach out of the weed zone – how much depends on the chemical properties of your herbicide and soil type.
Chemical leaching is particularly problematic with the stacking of residual herbicides late in the autumn, when soils become saturated with prolonged spells of heavy rain. But with Backrow Max added, more of your herbicide stays in the weed zone creating a stronger barrier to intercept any weeds that may germinate. Trials show Backrow Max can add valuable weed control in wet soils.
12% extra black-grass control in Winter Wheat
8% extra brome control with Luximo in Winter Wheat
Backrow Max adding valuable herbicide retention benefits to control later emerging brome.
Significant weed control benefits early on
Significant weed control benefits in Potatoes
Metribuzin is particularly susceptible to leaching from the top 5cm of soil after heavy rainfall, especially in light soils.
Significant weed control benefits in Potatoes
Significant weed control benefits in Potatoes
Significantly more herbicide in the weed zone after heavy rainfall
Research shows that adding Backrow Max retains significantly more herbicides in the top 5cm of the soil after heavy rainfall and its one of the most effective.
Pre-emergence herbicides often require additional support from an effective adjuvant to keep them in the weed germination zone (the top 5cm) in wet soils. In Spring 2022, research was carried out by the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Poland to evaluate the effect of Backrow Max on the movement of two main pre-emergence herbicide active substances –Clomazone and Pendimethalin.
The greatest (statistically significant) slowdown in the movement of Clomazone and Pendimethalin was observed when applied with Backrow Max. It was also shown to be more effective than Backrow. And in 2021, the same research had proven Backrow to be significantly more effective than the other adjuvants on test – Drill and Grounded. Only Backrow maximised Clomazone and Pendimethalin retention in the top layer of the soil and minimised it in the bottom layer, whereas Drill and Grounded both significantly increased herbicide loss lower down.
One of the best soil-acting adjuvants for herbicide retention
Backrow Max is more effective than its predecessor Backrow, at herbicide retention in the top 5cm (blue bars)
Backrow was the best on test until Backrow Max came along
Research showed Backrow to be significantly better than Drill and Grounded at herbicide retention, especially with herbicides that have high water solubility & low soil adsorption characteristics like Clomazone which pose the biggest risk to leaching from the top 5cm.
Protects crop & groundwater safety after heavy rainfall
Backrow Max reduces chemical leaching by as much as 60%, improving safety to crops and groundwater.
10-20% less crop damage, more wheat plants / m2
Increasing herbicide retention in the top 5cm of the soil doesn’t just benefit weed control, its crucial to protect crops and groundwater too.
Herbicides with high mobility and low adsorption to soil colloids, pose the biggest threat to crops and groundwater, particularly in light soils.
The ability of Backrow Max to improve crop safety is well proven and shows it can help avoid crop damage – as seen here with Avadex Factor. This has positive implications for crop establishment.
Zero crop damage by adding Backrow Max to Luximo
With heavy rainfall, all residual herbicides have the potential to leach and cause crop damage, even the latest chemistry.
In this 2021 trial some crop damage was detected using Luximo due to heavy rainfall following application. The plots treated with Backrow Max had zero crop damage.
More targeted application
Backrow Max creates the perfect size spray droplets for maximum coverage across the soil in challenging conditions.
Reduces the number of drift prone droplets, improving coverage
Backrow Max contains an anti-drift agent that helps reduce drift and keep your residual herbicide on target.
Research conducted by Silsoe Spray Applications Unit shows Backrow Max significantly reduces the number of fine spray droplets smaller than 100 microns, which are the most susceptible to drift.
In the tests, the number of drift prone Liberator droplets were reduced by 35%.
Increases droplet size in the optimum size range for maximum coverage
As well as reducing the number of drifty droplets, Backrow Max also reduces the number of very coarse droplets prone to bounce – a feature of low drift nozzles. This increases the number of droplets in the optimum size range for better coverage of the soil.
On-farm trials with a range of nozzle types, have shown that
a combination of drift reducing nozzles and Backrow Max, helps to optimise on-target spraying, maximising coverage and deposition.
Small % benefit in good conditions but useful none-the-less
In good conditions herbicides won't need as much support
With Backrow Max you won't see a big benefit if conditions remain favourable for your herbicides after application. The trouble is, you never know what the weather has in store. Backrow Max is a cost-effective insurance policy for your herbicides and will give them the best chance of working to their potential if conditions turn dry/wet. In this trial, conditions were pretty favourable and Backrow Max added 2% to black-grass control - which all means less seed returning to your soils, and less plants emerging the following year.
Secure residual herbicide success with Backrow Max
Weed control is becoming increasingly challenging with either very dry or very wet conditions at drilling. Volatile weather makes it hard for you to know if/when your herbicide may be impacted and if your herbicide will run out of steam prematurely. Take the guess work away and secure residual herbicide success with Backrow Max – it really does help take performance to the max.
