Thistle
(Cirsium arvense)
Thistle
The most effective opportunity to fight thistle is when the compensation point occurs. That is, when the root stops supplying the green part of the plant with nutrition and the plant should start loading energy into the root. Then the root is usually emptied and the thistle has difficulty coping with being cut. This occurs according to older findings when the thistle has 8-10 leaves, but new research suggests that it is significantly earlier than that – already at 2-3 leaves. Cutting with Combcut delays growth and development and greatly reduces seed production of the thistle.
Combcut can also be used to cut off flowers to counteract seed spreading, resulting in 87-100% reduced amount of produced flower buds. Cutting also reduces the amount of biomass produced (above and underground) of thistle over time (68-89% reduced amount of aboveground dry matter (plant) and 66-79% reduced amount of roots).
Crop
Cutting with Combcut should be done before the stem elongation of the crop to avoid damaging the crop and lower the yield, especially when you have an aggressive setting on the knives. In order to have the best effect, when cutting, a competitive crop should be in good growth. This enhances the effect of the cutting so that the thistle is inhibited and the crop benefits from it.
Tests in 2014 in Norway show that Combcut is a good option for fitghing thistle in cereal production. The use of Combcut on thistle in oats increased yield by 39%.
Fighting thistle and charlock
Charlock
(Sinapis arvensis)
After one passage with Combcut, charlock is reduced by 70–80%, but timing is crucial. The use of Combcut reduces seed production and the weed problem in the long run. It is important to keep in mind that the cutting should be carried out before the seeds are viable. You can also cut charlock in the autumn in autumn sown crops such as rapeseed.
Docks
(Rumex spp.)
Docks mainly occur in grassland and pasture where they can become a major problem. There are reports of herbicide resistance. They also produce thousands of seeds that can survive in the soil for several decades.
It is not always possible to cut the docks before the first harvest. Then the recommendation is to drive with Combcut after each harvest and as soon as the inflorescence is visible. If you wait longer, the seeds will ripen and the stem will be hard and difficult to cut. As with thistle, it is important to exhaust the docks through repeated cutting to empty the root and prevent seed spreading. Older docks have had time to establish larger roots and are harder to get rid of. A crop that is in good shape to compete the weed is a big advantage.
Results from independent scientific tests showed a reduction of between 70 and 83% of the flowering docks in a 35 cm grassland
Dandelion
(Taraxacum spp.)
Dandelion is an early weed and grows mainly in grasslands. The flower is easy to cut off, but the flower grows back quite fast. Repetitive cutting is recommended to empty the root and exhaust the plant.
Large reduction of flowers reduces seed production and further spreading
Sow thistle
(Sonchus arvensis)
Combcut works excellently on sow thistle, but since it emerges quite late in the season growing season and usually grows a bit down in the crop they can be difficult to access. When fighting sow thistle in potatoes, cut above the crop – it is not possble to comb through potatoes.
Cornflower and mayweed
Cornflower and mayweed germinate in the autumn and are often a problem in winter wheat. In autumn crops, the time frame for cutting is shorter and timing is crucial. Keeping track of the fields and development stages for both crop and weeds is the key to success. Most often, the opportunity for control is given just before the stem elongation phase when the weeds are also soft and easy to cut.
If you miss this opportunity, there may be another chance to cut flowers and prevent seed spreading later after heading. The cutting then takes place just above the crop, but it is not certain that you can access the flowers that are further down. Mayweed can also get harder to cut further into the season since the stem gets stiffer.
Sugar beet bolters
Bolters take energy from the sugar beet itself, make it more difficult to harvest and might become a difficult weed in the years to come. Sugar beet bolters need to get cut before they become too big and thick for Combcut to cut, and it´s often necessary to cut them more than once. The sharp razor blades give a fine cut and does not cause enough damage in only one passage.
Other weeds
Heres are some examples of other with to cut with Combcut
Other weeds
Wild oats
(Avena fatua)
You can cut wild oats above the crop with good results, according to our own and customers’ tests.
Other weeds
Black grass
(Alopecurus myosuroides)
Already at the first run with Combcut, tests have shown a reduction of 50%. Tests and evaluations have been carried out primarily by representatives and customers in UK and the Netherlands.
Övriga ogräs
Spilled grain
Combcut also works on spilled grain, from previous harvest, which can otherwise be difficult to combat even for conventional farmers.
If you have a problem with any other weed, contact us for more information about your particular weed and what Combcut can handle.
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