Cleavers in oilseed rape

What problems do cleavers cause in OSR? 

Cleavers (Galium aparine) have long caused problems to oilseed rape growers due to the competitive nature of the weed and the way it can grow across the canopy late in the season. Cleavers are widespread throughout all arable areas of the UK.

Germinating in the autumn and the spring, cleavers are the most competitive broad-leaved weeds that infest crops. Taking advantage of fertiliser inputs, mature cleaver plants can become very large and use the crop for support by growing vigorously across the canopy, depriving it of nutrients, water and light, ultimately causing difficulty during harvesting. s.  In non-competitive crops, one cleaver plant per square metre can result in a 5% yield loss.

Seed size of cleavers is similar to that of oilseed rape making them difficult to remove at harvest and as well as direct yield loss due to crop competition, high levels of cleaver seed will impact admixture and potentially lead to heating within the stored crop and reductions in oil quality.

Product Choice 

Belkar®, containing picloram and halauxifen methyl, is a post emergence herbicide that can be applied from 1st September to 31st December. Itwill provide reliable control of cleavers and a range of other broad-leaved weeds.

Korvetto®, containing clopyralid and halauxifen-methyl, can be applied from 1st March to 1st June.  It controls established cleavers (up to 15cm in size) and a range of other broad-leaved weeds.