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Guidelines and advice
Oilseed rape is an integral part of the UK arable rotation, and a profitable break crop.
Renowned herbicides such as Astrokerb® and Kerb® Flo 500 contain propyzamide and are the cornerstones of many herbicide programmes. They are key to controlling grassweeds, especially blackgrass and ryegrass in oilseed rape, and with no known resistance, propyzamide can help manage and reduce the burden of these weeds across the rotation.
After a heavy rain event there is a risk of propyzamide attached to soil particles getting washed into surface water. Appropriate planning, management and adoption of stewardship practices must be followed to mitigate this risk.
Oilseed rape growers are urged to consider the actions they can take to protect watercourses.
Field selection, tramline placement and buffer zones can all play an important role in effective risk mitigation.
In line with best practice guidance from the Voluntary Initiative, growers are advised to implement simple steps which will help ensure autumn and winter-applied products don’t reach watercourses.
You can also speak to your agronomist, your local Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer or your local catchment water company officer for advice on managing the reduction of pesticides reaching water.
After reviewing the propyzamide and stewardship materials, take the quiz to test your knowledge and earn CPD points.
BASIS points: 3 (1 CP; 1 E; 1 AP) and 2 NRoSO points.
- Before drilling
- At application
- Resources
Before drilling and at establishment
1. Aim to grow oilseed rape on low-risk fields:
- Those that don’t slope to a watercourse (field slope is less than 5% (1m fall in 20m)).
- Are less susceptible to run-off.
- Are NOT bordered by a watercourse.
- There are NO field drains.
- The field has NOT been deep sub-soiled (below plough layer) or mole-drained within the preceding 6 months.
2. Consider appropriate establishment, direction of working travel, soil type and topography
Layout tramlines so that they do not provide a direct route for water to leave the field.
Disturb the surface compaction in the tramlines if possible.
Ideally establish the crop with true minimum tillage working the top 4-6cm only or by direct drilling.
3. Use buffer zones
To reduce the risk of run-off (both water and sediment), that may contain pesticides from reaching water courses, the VI guidelines recommend a 6m buffer along watercourses if possible.
Wide buffers are advisable in particularly vulnerable areas.
4. Safeguard zones
Refer to the Environment Agency website “Drinking Water Protected Areas Safeguard Zones (SgZs)” to check if planned oilseed rape fields are in a Safeguard Zone. Consider not growing this crop if mitigation methods cannot be put in place and there is a high risk of herbicides moving into water.
Check for Drinking Water Safeguard Zones and NVZs (data.gov.uk)
At application
1. Take care when filling and cleaning the sprayer to avoid a point source contamination scenario.
2. Check soils – do not apply propyzamide when soils are cracked, dry or saturated.
3. Check the weather – do not apply propyzamide if heavy rainfall is expected within 48 hours of application.
Check Kerb Weather Data to use the traffic light system which indicates when weather conditions are optimum for Astrokerb or Kerb Flo 500 applications.
4. Best use of propyzamide
Propyzamide works best when applied to cold, moist soils, but this must be balanced with the need to protect water.
Apply at the right time – From 3 leaf stage of the crop (1st October) up to before 1st February – Find out more about the best time to apply with our propyzamide back to basics webpage.
Apply when conditions are right –
Moisture – soils should be at 80% field capacity (1-2.5cm of moisture).
Soil temperature – at 30cm, maximum 10°C and declining.
Use the right dose rate – only use the maximum rate of 840gai/ha for severe blackgrass situations. 750gai/ha or 500gai/ha are recommended for less severe blackgrass or other grasses and broad-leaved weeds (see product label for details). Only use one product containing propyzamide per crop per year.
Propyzamide information
Further reading
Kerb Weather Data tool
Water stewardship best practice in oilseed rape
In this video, Clare Stapley, Category Marketing Manager at Corteva Agriscience™, describes the best practice water stewardship principles to ensure autumn and winter-applied herbicides in oilseed rape don’t reach watercourses.
Water stewardship best practice in oilseed rape
In this video, Clare Stapley, Category Marketing Manager at Corteva Agriscience™, describes the best practice water stewardship principles to ensure autumn and winter-applied herbicides in oilseed rape don’t reach watercourses.
Propyzamide - Back to Basics
Join Corteva’s Oilseed Rape Herbicides Category Marketing Manager, Clare Stapley, and Technical Manager, Sally Harris, as they provide a comprehensive overview of propyzamide and share stewardship best practice information.
Propyzamide - Back to Basics
Join Corteva’s Oilseed Rape Herbicides Category Marketing Manager, Clare Stapley, and Technical Manager, Sally Harris, as they provide a comprehensive overview of propyzamide and share stewardship best practice information.
