SEED TREATMENT Jockey is more useful than some others in preventing lodging, a Dalgety trial suggests.

Assessments were made last month on 15 varieties grown as third wheats at the firm’s Throws Farm in Essex.

These found that of the 14 varieties in which lodging occurred Jockey led to less lodging in 13 when compared with Sibutol and Latitude treatments.

The average incidence, confirming observations from the last bad lodging season four years ago, was 27% for Jockey, 34% for Sibutol and 40% for Latitude, notes the firm’s Mike Jeffes.

Along with reduced take-all and septoria the effect is a useful benefit, he said.

“The trial has clearly shown that in a lodging year you are likely to get less lodging if Jockey has been used.”

Trials manager David Newton said: “It’s very clear cut visually as well as being statistically significant.”

Deeper, more robust rooting may account for the differences though this is hard to assess, he added