The best time and method for applying herbicides in high-temperature weather

After entering the dog days of summer, most crops in our country no longer need spraying, but for crops planted in summer, field management techniques are needed, so weeding is still necessary. So when is the best time to apply herbicides in high-temperature weather? How to apply them for good results?

1. From the weather perspective

1. Sunny days

If it is sunny and also high temperature, it is recommended to wait until after 4-5 pm to apply the herbicide. Some people ask whether the morning works. Generally speaking, before 8-9 am is also fine, but why is it not recommended? Mainly because under sunny and high-temperature weather, if you finish spraying the herbicide in the morning, the liquid needs time to be absorbed (generally about 6 hours). Before the weeds have fully absorbed it, the midday sun comes out and the liquid is quickly evaporated. In this way, the amount of herbicide liquid absorbed by the weeds is reduced, and the weeding effect will be compromised. If you apply the herbicide after 4-5 pm, after a night of absorption, the weed-killing effect will be relatively satisfactory (although the temperature at night is not low either, it is still better than during the day), so it is recommended to apply herbicides in the afternoon.

2. Cloudy days

On cloudy days, with no direct sunlight, after applying the herbicide, the liquid does not evaporate relatively as quickly, but the temperature is still very high, so you still need to pay attention to this point. It is likewise recommended to mainly spray in the afternoon. If you want to spray in the morning (when the dew has gone), you can also spray, for the same reason as above.

In addition, whether it is sunny or cloudy, spraying at noon is not recommended. There is another reason, which is safety, to avoid heatstroke. If you go to the field alone at noon to spray, once you get heatstroke, the consequences are unimaginable.

2. From the perspective of the planting target

1. Smallholder farmers

Smallholder farmers refers to the situation of most of us: the family has a few mu of land, grows some crops, keeps part for their own consumption, and sells the rest for some income. For smallholder farmers, the time to apply herbicides is the same as said above. Whether sunny or cloudy, under high temperature, it is recommended to spray in the afternoon or evening. For example, if the family has 5 mu of land, all planted with corn, sometimes these 5 mu are not in one connected plot and may be in several places, requiring riding a tricycle and pulling the spray tank around. If it cannot be finished in one day, then take two days. Two days is basically enough to finish, and it will not affect the crops.

2. Large-scale growers

Large-scale growers can be large farming households, cooperatives, farms, etc. In this situation, it is a different matter. Why? Everyone knows that during the spraying period, large-scale growers hire more people (or spray themselves), generally paying wages by the day and also providing meals. If they were made to wait until 4-5 pm to spray, they would only work those few hours a day. Not to mention whether the owner is willing, by the time they finish spraying (in the case of thousands of mu), the weeds in the field have already grown very tall, the weeds' resistance has increased, and spraying will not achieve the effect, amounting to wasted effort. Therefore, for the situation of large-scale growers, it is recommended to spray according to the actual situation, and you can avoid the especially hot two hours at noon. If there are many plots, you can also work a little overtime at night to spray (provided there is equipment and you can see clearly).

Also, when applying herbicides, here are 3 precautions to remind everyone of:

1. The herbicide dose must not be increased at will. Some friends may think that when applying pesticide under high temperature, more evaporates, so the dose should be increased. This is wrong. During the optimal suitable period for weeds, use the pesticide according to the instructions.

2. Herbicides are recommended to be diluted twice. First mix evenly in a small container, then pour into a large container. This applies whether it is a backpack sprayer, a spraying machine, or a drone.

3. On the premise that the herbicide dose per unit area is fixed, the more water the better. Spray the weeds thoroughly, so that the weeding effect can better achieve our goal.