Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW MAY/JUNE 2022 35 APPLICATIONS G ROWER Sam Daw is advocating the use of in-furrow nematicide application after trying it out during 220ha of planting last year. The withdrawal of Vydate (oxamyl) for control of potato cyst nematode (PCN) in January last year prompted Sam to trial a liquid nematicide instead of the powdered formula he’d previously favoured. Sam, of WB Daw and Son, who manages the 1600ha family farm, based between Rugeley and Tamworth, moved over to Velum Prime ( fluopyram) to help him suppress root damage from free-living nematode (FLN) and reduce symptoms of tobacco rattle virus (TRV) on the 200-250ha of potatoes he farms annually in Staffordshire. He says he finds it easier to use than powdered or granular nematicides as it can be applied at lower dosage rates when applied in-furrow or by broadcast spray. Sam consulted Tom Neat, Managing Director at Techneat Engineering, who he In-furrow application convert Grower explains how he fared last season and why he’s glad he made the switch. has known for several years, and from whom he’d purchased four applicators within the past 10 years. Samsaid: “Purchasing the VelumPrime applicator in February 2021, we initially set up the machine with a single dosatron chemical injection pump that mixes the VelumPrime but, following a difficult start to the season encountering Rhizoctonia solani, we then decided to upgrade to two dosatron pumps and two 10L chemical tanks, allowing us to apply Allstar (fluxapyroxad) for control of Rhizoctonia simultaneously in-furrow alongside the VelumPrime.” He rear-mounted the applicator on his GB215 Grimme two-bed planter, with the applicator’s 220L water tank centrally positioned at the rear of the planter and all the pipework going forwards. The applicator is equipped with two 10L chemical tanks and two dosatron chemical injection pumps that mix the chemicals with water and pump it directly into the spray line where it’s applied into the soil via two main outlets. “Nozzles are mounted at the opener of the planter and are pointed backwards as we’re targeting the soil as it’s folded in around the potatoes as they’re planted,” said Sam. He said it was quick to set up and simple to use. It uses the same Garmin GPS electronic rate controller as other Techneat machines – cab-mounted and designed for easy output monitoring. “There have been no maintenance issues to date and, providing you clean out both the tank and spray lines following use, there is very little else to go wrong,” said Sam. “After 220ha of planting last year I can confirm that the new applicator delivers both Velum Prime and Allstar into the soil accurately and, if required, simultaneously – without drift or reduction in nozzle pressure and has excellent anti-blockage properties. Importantly, for us as a business, it also frees up use of our sprayer, which we could have used to treat the potato beds prior to planting as an alternative system. “The cost benefits of reducing an additional pass, combined with the agronomic benefits of protecting our soil with a single-pass planting system are an added bonus.” “Importantly for us as a business, it frees up use of our sprayer, which we could have used to treat the potato beds prior to planting.”