Weed control in orchards is one of the major concerns of producers, who are constantly looking for effective solutions to this problem. Bayer has just introduced a new product that offers greater control and more safety; it is Faena FG, a herbicide in granular formulation that has a higher concentration of the active ingredient and more effective surfactants, which provide superior control in the fight against grass and broadleaf weeds.
Faena FG is a product that has advanced surfactant technologies that increase application efficiency. In addition, it adapts to the needs of producers due to its greater convenience and practicality in packaging. Its granulated formulation has a higher concentration of active ingredient and a generation of surfactants that give it greater penetration efficiency in weeds, faster action and greater compatibility with other products for tank mixtures.
Another of the characteristics that draws attention to this new product is the ability to achieve higher levels of weed control at a lower dose of active ingredient; this confirms that it is a highly reliable product in terms of the effectiveness of the treatment to be carried out.
Presentation and formulation
If we talk about their formulation, it is necessary to point out that all glyphosates formulated as water-soluble concentrates have 3 components: the first is the “active ingredient”, which is the cause of the herbicidal action and is the same for all glyphosates.
Then there is a “salt” that allows the active ingredient to dissolve in water for the preparation of tank mixtures; and finally, the “surfactant” that facilitates the entry of the active ingredient into the weeds.
The combination of these three products, after a series of studies and investigations, showed that salt, for example, is a component that does not affect the efficiency of glyphosate to control weeds, but that does allow formulations with a higher quantity of herbicide and defines compatibility with surfactants and other products when making mixtures in the tank. On the other hand, surfactants serve the function of facilitating the entry of the herbicide into the plant through the leaves.
They increase the adhesion and contact surface between the droplet and the leaf, and prevent premature evaporation of water. In order to perform these functions, surfactants must be fully compatible with the herbicide salts.
Just like the efficiency and safety of a herbicide, producers are looking for practical solutions when it comes to storage and application; in this regard, Faena Fg is a solid granulate that comes in 15-kilogram cardboard boxes that facilitate stacking for storage in warehouses and transport, lower risk of losses due to breakage or liquid spills and helps with the final disposal of containers (avoiding drums).
As for its composition, it contains 792 g/kg of Glyphosate (monoammonium salt of N-phosphonomethyl glycine), which represents an equivalent of 720 g/kg of acid glyphosate. It is also an evolution of the “Transorb” technology that allows the combination of a latest generation surfactant with higher concentrations of active ingredient.
The new surfactant technology increases the contact surface between the herbicide drop and the weed leaf, promoting and accelerating absorption from the leaves to the rest of the tissues for its action. In addition, its rapid absorption reduces the possibility of washing by rain within 4 to 6 hours after application.
It should also be noted that the product adapts to the different weed management practices that producers must carry out and has optimal compatibility with other herbicides used. Its high levels of control are not affected by different application volumes (maintaining the same dose), allowing the incorporation of other products that require being applied with larger volumes in the same tank.
Finally, when choosing a herbicide, it is necessary to consider the type, quality and quantity of surfactant, in addition to how much “active ingredient” a litre of herbicide contains. Two formulations of glyphosate may have the same price per litre and the same recommended dose per hectare, but they differ in their level of weed control due to having different surfactant and active ingredient characteristics per litre.
