BASTA®

Basta® is a unique broad spectrum, non-selective herbicide that provides excellent crop safety with a relatively low hazard to the operator. Basta is registered for use in a wide range of crops including avocado, banana, citrus, mango, lychee, pawpaw, rambutan, tree nuts and stonefruit.

During 2003 Bayer CropScience conducted a series of field demonstrations in the Northern Rivers district. These demonstrations highlighted the importance of the following factors to control weeds with Basta.

Test 89:

Bill Moore - Tintenbar - March 2003

Basta + Liase
Untreated

Spray coverage
Thorough spray coverage is essential for weed control with Basta, as it is absorbed by leaves and other green parts of the plants.
For boom spraying:

  • A water volume of 300-500 L/ha is recommended.
  • Lower spray volumes may be insufficient to provide adequate coverage of weeds, and may contribute to poor weed control.

For CDA spraying:

  • A water volume of 20-30 /ha has been shown to provide good results.
  • The weed height should be less than 15 cm, and the spray dome just touching the top of the weeds.

Rate selection
A number of factors influence the rate of Basta required to kill weeds, e.g. weed species and size. The Basta label shows the rate range required for optimum weed control. The size of the weeds and density of the weed cover dictate whether to use a higher or lower rate within the range specified. The rate selected should always be related to the least sensitive (hardest to kill), weed that is to be controlled.

Environmental conditions
Environmental conditions can have a significant impact on the results achieved with Basta. Therefore the following points should be considered.

  • Only apply to actively growing weeds.
  • Wherever possible applications should be made under high humidity (humidity >50%).
  • Do not apply Basta if rain is likely within 6 hours.
    The addition of ammonium sulphate (Liase®) may improve uptake and weed control in some situations.
Basta controls willow herb Managing problem weeds is always a challenge to orchardists in the Northern Rivers district, especially when it comes to willow herb.

According to Gavin Arthur, who grows 3,500 macadamia trees at Dorroughby, the difficult weeds to control are willow herb, desmodium and cobblers pegs.

"Our A38's block was an old mango block which had a problem with weeds such as hairy willow herb and desmodium," said Gavin. "Using Basta through the boom has cleaned up these weeds."

Bayer CropScience recommends a rate of 4 to 5 L/ha of Basta to control willow herb.

When applying Basta for general weed control, it is not necessary to use an adjuvant or wetter, as Basta already contains an effective wetter in the formulation. However, if water volumes are in excess of 500 L/ha and the target weeds are particularly hard to wet, then 25 to 50 mL/100 L of a non-ionic wetting agent may be added.


Gavin cleaned up problem weeds

Warren's mango block after spraying Basta
Basta killed willow herb at 4 L/ha
Warren Everingham, avocado, custard apple, macadamia and mango grower at Tullera near Dunoon says that when it comes to weed control, it's all about choosing the right herbicide.
"We found that a program of Roundup® and Spray Seed® didn't work due to the build-up of hairy willow herb," said Warren.
"In the mango blocks we used Basta at 4 L/ha," said Warren. "Basta is cost-effective, because it works."


Rick uses Basta at 4 L/ha prior to pruning


Luc uses Basta on a block of young 814 macadamias

Excellent crop safety
For Lucino Ivan, farm manager of the Macadamia Industries of Australia (MIA) 38,000 tree plantation at Dunoon, operator and tree safety is a subject of considerable importance.

"I've been managing macadamia orchards for 19 years and won't risk damage to small trees," said Lucino. "Basta has excellent safety when sprayed around young trees and, unlike glyphosate, if accidental contact with the trees does occur, damage is only on the parts that were contacted and not throughout the tree".

"Basta is our product of choice because we prefer not to risk worker safety with other more toxic herbicides."

Bayer CropScience recommends the use of a solid shroud to protect and shield young trees from herbicide spray drift. Basta is registered for use around trees under two years of age, as long as they are shielded from spray and spray drift, because at this stage lignification of bark may not be complete. Spraying with the use of a solid shroud will reduce the risk of spray contacting the unlignified bark.

Basta saves time
Rick Dalli manages the herbicide program for Ray Hick at Heavenly Valley Farm in Bangalow. Managing 3,000 stonefruit trees as well as citrus, macadamias and mangoes, Rick strategically uses Basta twice during the stonefruit season.

"We do one spray of Basta prior to pruning to kill any problem weeds like willow herb and cobbler's pegs," said Rick. "The second Basta spray is pre-harvest, because we can't afford to re spray the blocks, as this is our busiest three months of the year."

"Basta is well worth the investment, as it saves time."

Reliability with Basta
Neville Battistuzzi manages the weed control for Bill Moore at Wingvale, Tintenbar. This year, Neville and Bill changed from hand spraying to boom spraying with Basta. "Time is the biggest saving with using Basta through the boom, as well as using less herbicide overall," said Neville. "We are getting more reliable results using Basta at 4 L/ha in a water volume of 400 L/ha to control problem weeds like cobbler's pegs."

Neville gets good results with Basta at 4 L/ha

 

 

 

Click here for printer friendly page - How to calibrate your boom.

The information and recommendations set out on this page are based on tests and data believed to be reliable at the time of publication. Results may vary, as the use and application of the products is beyond our control and may be subject to climatic, geographical or biological variables, and/or developed resistance. Any product referred to in this brochure must be used strictly as directed, and in accordance with all instructions appearing on the label for that product and in other applicable reference material. So far as it is lawfully able to do so, Northern Rivers Rural Buying Service & Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility for loss or damage arising from failure to follow such directions and instructions.

For Technical Enquiries please call 1800 804 479
Basta® is a Registered Trademark of Bayer. -Registered trademark,
Bayer Cropscience Pty Ltd ABN 87 000 226 022 391-393 Tooronga Road East Hawthorn, Vic. 3123 Phone: (03) 9248 6888 Fax: (03) 9248 6800 www.bayercropscience.com.au Always read and adhere to label directions or the product container.

© Steve Cselka 2002 - 2010