It is not easy to choose the right one among the many existing herbicides. This is Zenkor, a chemical that is safe for humans and contains metribuzin. It has a selective effect, that is, it is deadly for weeds, but harmless for potatoes and other crops. Consider the order of instructions for using the herbicide.
Instructions for use
The preparation is applied any hand spray... It is possible, but not necessary, to protect the respiratory tract from entering.
Zenkor is easy to use, as it does not require special preparation of potato root crops before processing. Planting takes place in the usual way - preparing the soil, cutting furrows and planting tubers.
Reusable use of the drug during one garden season is allowed and encouraged, taking place in several stages.
Pre-emergence treatment
The first stage of processing should take place 2-3 days before potato shoots. At this time, dicotyledonous weeds should have already germinated, the height of the shoots should be at least 2 cm.
The dosage of the chemical directly depends on the quality of the soil, we try to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Light soil (black earth) - up to 0.6 l / hectare.
- Medium soil (podzolic) - up to 0.75 l / hectare.
- Heavy soil (clayey) - up to 1.2 l / hectare.
Soil moisture has a positive effect on the efficiency of Zencor treatment. It is good if it rains a few hours before watering.
Immediately after using Zenkora, a thin protective film forms on the soil surface. It additionally prevents the germination of new shoots of weeds, it is recommended to keep it as long as possible.
It's better for this refrain from loosening the soil and sprinkling (watering from a hose).
Post-emergence treatment
This stage can be started about 2 weeks after the first. It is more convenient to focus on the height of potato sprouts - the plants should reach at least 5 cm.The consumption of the chemical is less than at the stage of pre-emergence treatment:
- Light soil (black soil) - up to 0.5 l / hectare.
- Average soil (podzolic) - up to 0.6 l / hectare.
- Heavy soil (clay) - up to 0.8 l / hectare.
It is strictly forbidden to process potatoes with Zenkor during the day, while the sun is at its zenith.
Important properly maintain the term of the second treatment... The action of the drug should continue until the time when the rows of tops are completely closed, which will complicate the development of the second wave of weeds.
How to prepare the mixture
To prepare a mixture based on a chemical in the form of granules, add 15 grams of powder to 5 liters of water, and complete dissolution occurs in 30 minutes. For the liquid variety, the consumption is 7-11 ml per 5 liters of water.
It is not worth buying a herbicide with a reserve - the shelf life of Zenkora from the date of release is 3 years. Try to store in its original packaging at a temperature not exceeding 40 ° C.
The drug needs dosingwhich depends on the nature of the soil... The easiest way to do dosing is at the watering stage - prepare the mixture according to the recipe given, but adjust the amount of chemical used when processing the soil.
The approximate consumption of Zenkora, depending on the soil, is given below.
Early potato varieties
Zenkor can be used on all potato varieties without exception. However, for processing plantings of early and super early varieties, it is necessary to carefully approach the dosage of the chemical.
Completely refuse pre-emergence treatment recommended in the case of cultivation of the following varieties:
- Alyona.
- Ariel.
- Riviera.
- Bellarosa.
- Lark.
- Karatop.
It is extremely rare, however, there are cases of slowing down of photosynthesis of potato sprouts after they are watered with herbicide. In this case, the ailment is observed in the form of mild chlorosis, the color of the leaves slows down, the plant develops more slowly.
Crops on light, sandy soils are most at risk.
What is Zenkor herbicide
Zenkor - chemical preparation for control of dicotyledonous broadleaf and annual cereal weeds... Refers to herbicides of selective, that is, selective action - does not harm cultivated plants.
Due to its relatively low cost, it is especially widely used for cultivating soil for planting potatoes, but it can also be used for cultivating soil for tomatoes, carrots and other crops.
Zenkor is based on metribuzin, a widely used active ingredient in a variety of fertilizers. It has a long-lasting effect, as it dissolves extremely slowly in water, it remains in the soil for up to 3 months.
Completely safe for insects, including bees. The element saturation of Zenkora is very high:
- In liquid form - 600 g / l;
- In granules - 700g / kg.
It is important that no resistance to metribuzin develops in harmful plants, so that its effectiveness remains at the same level every season.
Operating principle
The effectiveness of the herbicide is high due to its complex influence on weeds - both through the leaves of plants (interferes with photosynthesis), and on sprouts that have not yet emerged in the soil.
Re-germination is also prevented by a film appearing on the surface of the earth, which remains under favorable conditions for up to 2 weeks.
In the case of monocotyledonous weeds, you need to focus on the development of sprouts. This can be determined by eye - during the first soil cultivation, harmful plants should be in the vegetative stage of development, have a couple of formed leaves.
The soil in the garden must be settled - the penetration of the herbicide into the soil is harmfulas it prevents the formation of a film on the surface.
Benefits
Zenkor compares favorably with other herbicides in ease of use. All varieties have the following advantages:
- No preliminary dissolution is necessary.
- Effective consumption.
- Sprayer filters stay clean.
- Complete dissolution of granules without sediment.
- No strong chemical smell.
- Convenient to dose.
- The liquid variety is a good base for the manufacture of tank mix.
The chemical is completely safe for health. Complications from direct contact are extremely rare. If they occur, it is recommended to seek medical attention.
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, the drug is not without its drawbacks. These include the ineffectiveness of the agent on some types of soils, for example, on light soils, the humus saturation of which is less than 2%.
Also, Zenkor is not suitable for beds that operate on the principle of circular crop rotation with a change of crops every season. Reason - incompatibility of the chemical with some garden plants, eg:
- Onion, salad, garlic.
- Peppers.
- All types of cabbage.
- All types of melons.
- Beet.
- Rape.
In addition, the disposal of the remains of Zenkora or containers from it requires compliance with a number of conditions:
- It is necessary to construct an underground burial at a remote location.
- It is forbidden to make burials near water bodies.
Types of Zenkar
The drug has been used by gardeners in many countries for a long time, its effectiveness has been widely recognized.
A common chemical in the past Zenkor WG 70 was produced in the form of granular powder.
The outdated form of Zenkora release was replaced by new ones. Today, new types have spread - Zenkor Ultra and Liquid... Their difference is in an improved composition.
The formulation is different - both products are available in the form of a powder or a liquid suspension concentrate. The latter has the following advantages over powder:
- Shorter dilution process.
- Improved solution stability.
- The absence of any sediment in the container.
The composition of chemicals, depending on their subspecies, does not differ in any way, as well as their effectiveness. Supplied Zenkor in various containers:
- Powder bags - 20 g.
- Vials - up to 100 ml.
- Tanks - up to 5 liters.
Large-capacity packages are used for processing large farms, small ones for households.
Compatibility with other products
Zenkor is successfully used in the preparation of mixtures with the addition of a pesticide. However, it is not compatible with some types of fertilizers, it is helpful to remember the following tips:
- Prohibited apply the herbicide together with any nitrogen fertilizer.
- Mix carefully with insecticides.
- When mixed with sulfonylurea, the special order of adding ingredients - Zenkor is kneaded last and into the already infused mixture.
It is recommended to use the drug in conjunction with the manufacturer's products.
Zenkor can be successfully applied in any climatic conditions and on most soils. Its value for money makes it one of the most effective herbicides available.