German users like greening
REGISTRATION MAY have come late, but prothioconazole definitely left a lasting impression on German growers last year, bringing high yields and a very noticeable greening effect.
Commercial applications of the twin pack Input Set (prothioconazole + spiroxamine) were restricted to just ear sprays because of the late registration.
But Bernd Olligs, farming 220ha of arable cropping in Rhineland, 30 minutes north-west of Cologne, also had Input Set in trials on his farm last season, helping him evaluate its activity on foliar septoria.
“Septoria came in very early, making it very difficult to control, and treatments generally went on too late. We were right on the limit of being able to get effective control,” he says.
Indeed in his T1 trial, products such as Acanto Duo (picoxystrobin + propiconazole + fenpropidin) and Pronto Plus (tebuconazole + spiroxamine) did not have sufficient curative power to control septoria when applied 10 days after infection.
“Both Input Set and Opus Top (epoxiconazole + fenpropimorph) were much better. There wasn”t much difference between them, but the Input Set plots were visibly greener.”
Yields of each were similar at 13t/ha, about 3t/ha higher than Acanto Duo, he adds. “We definitely learned a lesson last year – spray earlier so we are not relying so much on a product’s curative properties.”
With that in mind he likes the flexibility Input Set offers. He is planning to take advantage by splitting his early fungicide treatments, while simultaneously reducing his total fungicide programme, a key aim with current grain prices.
“We definitely have to go three times – GS32 with a growth regulator, at GS37 with a herbicide and then at flowering for fusarium – so it makes sense to split the fungicide.”
Instead of applying two full doses of fungicides at the first two timings as usual, he now hopes Input Set”s effectiveness will allow him to go with one full dose split between the two timings.
The exact timing of the first split of 0.5 + 0.5 litres/ha Input Set will be determined using a septoria timer, a device that monitors humidity in the crop and determines when conditions conducive for septoria infection have occurred.
“You put it in the crop around GS32-33. We will spray as soon as infection has occurred, then follow it up seven days later with a second split of 0.2 + 0.2 litres/ha Input Set plus 0.25 litres/ha of Twist. By then the flag leaf should be emerging so we can protect that quite effectively.”
The ear spray will be a full dose of Input Set on fusarium-susceptible varieties, with more resistant varieties receiving a lower dose of 0.5 + 0.5 litres/ha. “Fusarium can be a real problem; the local power station adds humidity to the air, which can create the perfect conditions.”
Last year Mr Olligs applied Input Set on most of his commercial crop. “It is a step up compared with the older products. My trials show a 5-10% improvement over Folicur.”
Neighbouring grower Karl Peter Deufsen was also particularly impressed with Input Set at that timing on his second wheat. “The plant was more active, there was at least a week to 10 days” longer greening effect. Yields were extremely high.”
The difference in yield compared with Opus Top treated fields was about 1t/ha, although the first sprays were also different, so he admits it was difficult to pinpoint exactly where the yield increase came from.
Brown rust is his one concern with Input Set. “Rust control is not as it should be. On susceptible varieties you need to mix in tebuconazole or trilfoxystrobin to compensate.”
And while price is competitive, German growers are frustrated at having to use a twin pack, unlike in the UK, where prothioconazole is available as a straight or in ready formulated products. “It is annoying to have to use two packs,” says Mr Deufsen. “But it’s no reason not to use the product.”
