Step

Protecting crops at the start: how «Step» works

The success of growing soybeans, sunflowers, and corn is determined long before the first shoots emerge. The herbicide «Step» (manufacturers: ZPF Agrorus-Ryazan, RF; F. Agrotrade, Bulgaria) is a foundational tool for weed control during the most critical stage of crop development. As a systemic soil-applied herbicide, it creates a protective barrier on the soil surface that inhibits the germination of weeds.

Application scenarios and agronomy

Farmers choose «Step» to solve a specific challenge: ensuring a «clean start» for their crops in the competition for moisture and nutrients. Thanks to the pendimethalin in its formulation, the product effectively suppresses most annual grasses and many annual broad-leaved weeds.

• Application guidelines: The product is applied as a pre-emergence herbicide. A critical condition for success is soil moisture. The better the seedbed is prepared and the more leveled the field, the more uniformly the herbicide barrier is distributed, ensuring stable protection.
• Application rates: Depending on soil type and expected weed pressure, the rate is 3–6 L/ha. Maximum efficiency is achieved with a single application, allowing for significant savings in time and resources during the planting season.

Using «Step» is justified in operations where it is critical to eliminate weed competition during the first 3–5 weeks of the crop's life. It is a selective herbicide that, when applied according to regulations, does not inhibit the main crops, allowing them to develop under optimal conditions. Classified under hazard class 3, it requires standard safety precautions, making the application process predictable and straightforward for agronomists.