Improving Pre-Emergence Herbicide Performance with Grounded

Throughout the year, we are finding more and more resistant weeds in our fields, and studies are showing that resistant weeds are becoming an increasingly large problem in crops such as older stands of alfalfa. Pre-emergence herbicides control weeds by targeting seeds that have not yet germinated. Seeds can and will be present during most planting seasons and will continue to grow without proper care. With Grounded®, you can help your herbicide spray reach and eliminate those unwanted weeds by keeping pre-emergence herbicides in the weed germination zone.

Grounded improves the efficacy and adsorption of soil-applied herbicides, improves drift control and enhances application efficiency. When combined with pre-emergence herbicides, Grounded takes hold of free ions in the soil and pulls them together, keeping the herbicide in the soil where new seeds may germinate. Grounded may also reduce bounce and subsequent off-target scattering of spray droplets.

Grounded is a multi-functional, oil-based adjuvant containing emulsifiers to disperse the product evenly through water. Like all oil-based adjuvants, Grounded should be added to the spray mix last and completely agitated in to avoid any tank-mixing problems. Follow these steps to reduce mixing problems when cold water is used with Grounded:

• Try longer agitation times after Grounded has been added.
• Keep product to be used in the near future in a heated area.
• Split the addition of Grounded into two or three smaller portions (add a portion, agitate in and repeat).
• Pre-“slurry" Grounded in some hot water to get it emulsified before it hits the cold water.
• Add Blendex® @ 0.125-0.25% (1-2 pints/100 gal) to break up inverts and get mixes free-flowing again.

- David Gehrts, Product Manager, Southern Deserts Region