Organic growers can rely on products from Grochem Australia to help manage weeds and pests in their orchards.

Topping the list is Beloukha – a naturally derived herbicide for controlling broadleaf and grass weeds around orchards, vineyards and nurseries.

The herbicide has organic certification from NASAA, the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia.

Beloukha not only provides rapid weed control in orchards, vineyards and fallow soil but it also has an extensive registration covering paths, driveways, sheds, gardens, amenity horticulture areas, protected cropping situations and around nursery stock.

It is also useful for spot spraying in lawns and turf and takes care of algae, lichen, liverwort and moss in gardens, paths, rockeries, driveways and tiled roofs.

The latest addition to the label is for the use of unwanted suckers (water shoots) arising from the main stem or trunk in grapevines.

Ben Coombe, Grochem Australia’s general manager, says the use of the organic herbicide is expanding in tree crops and vineyards, in schools and among local government authorities in sensitive environments.

“Beloukha is becoming more widely used because it is softer and more sustainable than conventional chemistry for managing weeds,” he said.

“It is a fast acting, broad spectrum herbicide that works on contact, destroying the cell membrane of plants and causing rapid drying of the tissue.

“Since Beloukha was launched two years ago, we find that growers are achieving the best results with Beloukha by using the higher label rate of 8 L/100L of water applied at higher water volumes from 300–600 L/ha.

“For spot spraying, we recommend applying Beloukha at 24 mL/L of water.”

Beloukha is registered to control a wide range of seedling and young annual and perennial weeds such as black nightshade, blue top, capeweed, clover, couch and other grasses, nut grass, pigweed and wireweed.

Beloukha is fast acting, non-selective, biodegradable and foliar applied, based on 680 g/L nonanoic acid derived from naturally occurring substances found in sunflowers.

It has the highest loading of nonanoic acid on the market, which means lower use rates per hectare, fewer drums and more efficient storage and transport.

Mr Coombe said growers will see visible effects on green plant tissue within hours of applying Beloukha.

“This contact herbicide destroys the cell membranes of the plant epidermis, causing rapid burndown of both annual and perennial broadleaf and grass weeds,” he said.

Established and perennial weeds may require a second application seven days later.

While Beloukha is tough on weeds, it is biodegradable, breaking down into carbon dioxide and water.

Available in 1L, 5L, 20L, 200L and 1000L containers, Beloukha is the softer choice for band spraying in orchards and vineyards and general purpose weed control.