Corn and soybean growers in Canada have a new tool in the fight against tough and resistant weeds. Zidua SC is a new Group 15 herbicide from BASF that contains the active ingredient pyroxasulfone.

“BASF focuses on providing Canadian growers with tools that support current and emerging resistance challenges,” said Deven Esqueda, crop manager, corn and soybeans for BASF. “Zidua SC allows growers to add residual Group 15 activity to their weed management strategy and become less reliant on glyphosate.”

Recently registered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Zidua SC will be available for use in the 2018 season. Zidua SC is currently labelled for use in herbicide-tolerant soybeans and field corn.

Zidua SC is a stand-alone solution and can also be tank-mixed with glyphosate, Eragon LQ, Marksman or Engenia in Eastern Canada, and Heat LQ, Engenia or Armezon in Western Canada, to provide multiple modes of action for resistance management.

Resistance has been increasing across Canada in pigweed species, including waterhemp and redroot pigweed. A study by the Canadian Journal of Plant Science states glyphosate-resistant waterhemp was first identified in Ontario in 2014. In Alberta, Group 2-resistant redroot pigweed was identied by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2010.

The residual Group 15 activity in Zidua SC helps to inhibit early root and shoot growth in these tough to control weeds, maximizing corn and soybean yield through the critical period for weed control, the company said. Zidua SC also provides flushing control of barnyard grass, crabgrass, green and yellow foxtail, common waterhemp and redroot pigweed.