Many of you have begun treating your fields with early-postemergence (“cracking”) applications of Gramoxone (paraquat). Here are a few tips for success.
- Cracking applications can be applied from peanut emergence up until 28 days after cracking. Cosmetic injury (stunting and leaf necrosis) should be expected. Generally, this injury will not result in peanut yield loss as long as the label is followed (application rate and time).
- 15 GPA and coarse droplets (VMD50 ≥ 270 microns) are preferred. Gramoxone is NOT LABELED for aerial applications when applied postemergence in peanuts.
- The UGA recommended treatment (without walking the field) is as follows: Gramoxone 3SL @ 8 oz/A + Storm 4SL @ 16 oz/A + 1 Group 15 herbicide (either Anthem Flex 4SE @ 3 oz/A or Dual Magnum 7.62EC @ 16 oz/A or Enversa 3ME @ 48 oz/A or Outlook 6EC @ 10.5 oz/A or Warrant 3ME @ 48 oz/A or Zidua 4.17SC @ 2.5 oz/A). I do not have a Group 15 preference. Anthem Flex will cause more cosmetic injury due to one of its active ingredients (carfentrazone, trade name: Aim).
- NIS @ 0.25% v/v (32 oz/100 gals) should be included except when Dual Magnum or Outlook are used. Both of these herbicides are EC formulations (oil-based) and therefore have adjuvant-like properties.
- Remember, you can make your own Storm (Georgia Storm) by tank-mixing Ultra Blazer 2SL @ 16 oz/A + either Basagran 4SL @ 8 oz/A or Basagran 5SL @ 6.4 oz/A. This is a more appropriate ratio for South Georgia and will also be slightly cheaper.
- Gramoxone mixing order (from label): GRAMOXONE SL 3.0 IN TANK MIXTURES: In this order
- Fill spray tank 1/2 full with clean water or other approved carriers such as clear liquid fertilizer.
- Add nonionic surfactant to the tank
- Begin tank agitation and continue throughout mixing and spraying.
- Add dry formulations (WP, DF, etc.) to the tank.
- Add liquid formulations (SC, EC, L, etc.) to the tank.
- Add Gramoxone SL 3.0 to the tank.
- Add crop oil concentrate or methylated seed oil to the tank where/if needed.
- Fill the remainder of the spray tank.
Here is the Gramoxone label for those that might be interested: https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/agrian-cg-fs1-production/pdfs/Gramoxone_SL_3.0_Label1de.pdf