Farm Spray Program Designer
An interactive guide for South African crop protection products.
How to Use This Tool
- Select your crop from the dropdown menu.
- If prompted, choose the specific seed technology (e.g., Conventional, Glyphosate Tolerant) in the pop-up window.
- Adjust the 'Soil Clay Content' slider to match your field. This updates Application Rates (AR) for relevant herbicides.
- Review the product options. Use the 'Key' below the herbicide title to understand the ratings for Broadleaf (BL), Grass (GR), Residual days (RS), and Plant-back Interval (PI).
Please select a crop to see product recommendations.
Key Considerations for Effective Spray Programs
- Scouting is Essential: Do not spray calendar-based. Regularly scout fields to correctly identify weeds, diseases, and pests and to determine if they have reached economic threshold levels for treatment.
- Weed Control: Apply pre-emergence herbicides to clean, well-prepared seedbeds. For post-emergence applications, target small, actively growing weeds for best results.
- Disease Control: Fungicide applications are most effective when applied preventatively or at the very first sign of disease. Understand the conditions that favor disease to time sprays effectively.
- Pest Control: Use economic thresholds to determine when insecticide applications are necessary. Over-spraying can harm beneficial insects and lead to resistance.
Best Practices for Resistance Management
- Rotate Herbicide Groups: To prevent herbicide resistance, avoid using products from the same herbicide group (e.g., Group G) consecutively. Rotate between different groups/modes of action within a season and between seasons.
- Avoid Tank Mixing Same Groups: Do not tank mix herbicides from the same resistance action group for the same target weed. This provides no resistance management benefit.
- Follow the Label: Always read and follow the full product label instructions for application rates, timing, adjuvants, and safety precautions. The label is a legal document.
Tank Mixing Guide (WAMES / WALES Method)
Always add products to a spray tank that is half-full of water with the agitation running. Add products one at a time, allowing for complete mixing before adding the next.
- Water-soluble bags & Wettable powders (WP)
- Agitate thoroughly
- Micro-encapsulated & Water-dispersible granules (WG)
- Emulsifiable concentrates (EC)
- Solutions & Soluble liquids (SL)
- Adjuvants (e.g., surfactants, oils) - Add these last unless the product label specifies otherwise.
- Fill the tank with the remaining water.
Always Perform a Jar Test
Before mixing a full tank, perform a jar test to check for physical compatibility. Mix proportional amounts of all products in a clear glass jar in the correct order. If the mixture separates, clumps, or forms sludge, the products are not compatible.
Adjuvants & Safeners
Adjuvants improve product efficacy. Always check product labels for recommendations. Safeners are often included in the herbicide formulation or seed trait to protect the crop from injury.
Examples of Adjuvants in South Africa
Adjuvants enhance the performance of crop protection products. The product label will specify what type of adjuvant is required.
- Water Conditioners / Buffers: Corrects pH and neutralizes hard water ions. (e.g., UPL Allbuff, Nulandis Nucast)
- Surfactants / Wetters / Spreaders: Improves spray coverage. (e.g., UPL Silwet L-77, Villa Crop Addition)
- Stickers / Deposition Aids: Improves rainfastness. (e.g., UPL Sprayfilm 10)
- Penetrants (Crop Oil Concentrates): Helps active ingredient penetrate the leaf. (e.g., BASF Dash HC, Adama Take-Down)
Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) & Banned Products
The status of agrochemical products can change. Certain products listed may be classified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) or may have had their registration status change. Users must consult the latest official lists from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and CropLife South Africa before purchasing or applying any product.