Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2021 25 APPLICATION ADVICE W ITH the regulatory decision not to re-authorise oxamyl, growers now to Nemathorin for the control of PCN need to be aware of how to get the best results from this season’s applications, Syngenta’s Technical Manager Michael Tait has advised. “ e same equipment can be used for the overall application of granules, however it must be tted with Nemathorin speci c rotors or cartridges and calibrated to accurately deliver the 30 kg/ha application rate for PCN,” he advised. “Nemathorin cannot be applied in-furrow.” Michael advocated incorporating Nemathorin granules evenly to a depth of 15cm in the soil pro le during seedbed preparation, immediately prior to planting. “Incorporation to a consistent depth across all soil types and conditions is important, as Nemathorin is relatively immobile in the soil pro le - which helps to achieve the good levels of PCN control,” he saidd. “If eld conditions change, check the incorporation depth and adjust accordingly.” Growers and agronomists are also reminded not to desiccate or harvest crops for at least 17 weeks (119 days) after application. Higher yields in trials Michael said that the granular Nemathorin, accurately incorporated into the soil pro le, has consistently shown higher yields through greater PCN control, compared to uopyram liquid nematicide or a combination of liquid and reduced rate granular product. UK trials, on a commercial crop in Su olk, for example, showed a 10% higher yield from Nemathorin, at 56 t/ha, compared to uopyram applied in furrow. Other independent trials in Scotland have con rmed higher yields and improved marketable tuber size, as well as indicating better management of PCN population numbers with Nemathorin, compared to uopyram. E ective control of PCN with an integrated approach to crop management is advocated wherever populations are identi ed by soil sampling. Managing even low egg counts most e ectively can help to protect yields of the growing crop, as well as to minimise multiplication and build-up of pest numbers, Michael stressed. Nemathorin is also approved to reduce the damage caused by problematic potato soil pests, wireworm, along with free-living nematodes (FLN) responsible for the transmission of spraing. “Accurate application of Nemathorin and following the protocols of the Nematicide Stewardship Programme will help assure yield is protected in the growing crop and sustainable management of PCN in the long-term,” he added.