The CONVISO® SMART system – comprising conventionally bred SMART KWS varieties that are tolerant to the herbicide CONVISO® ONE – allows not only the number and quantity of herbicides used to be reduced, but also the number of applications, usually down to two necessary treatments. That makes it all the more important to choose the best time for the first application in order to ensure the long-term effectiveness of this innovative system.
The free myKWS tool CONVISO® SMART application manager helps beet growers do just that. Unlike conventional herbicide application, the spraying time in the CONVISO® SMART system is determined by the two-leaf stage (BBCH 12) of the Chenopodium album weed. The critical growth stage of this indicator weed must be monitored continuously and over longer periods of time in the field. When farmers now register their fields in advance on the myKWS platform, the tool uses weather and location data, along with information on the date of the last tillage and sowing date to determine when the Chenopodium album has reached the critical development stage. The farmers are then informed immediately, can check their fields, and are effectively supported in their decision-making by means of precise data. KWS has conducted tests over many years to achieve this reliability for the tool. The aim is to gradually develop the application manager further so that a second application recommendation should also be possible in the future.
The myKWS platform tools support the farmer – across all crops – from variety selection to harvest with farm and field-specific recommendations.
Further information about CONVISO® SMART - the SMART innovation in sugar beet weed control you can find here.