Beet mildew spray worth it – IACR
10 August 2001
Beet mildew spray worth it – IACR
By FARMERS WEEKLY staff
AS powdery mildew starts to infect sugar beet, The Institute of Arable Crops Research station at Brooms Barn advises spraying crops with a triazole fungicide.
Even those beet crops destined for early lifting, should receive a full rate (0.625l/ha) of Punch C (carbendazim+flusilazole).
That contrasts with advice from elsewhere, admits British Beet Research Organisations Mike May.
Traditional thinking indicates that sulphur, which costs about half as much, is more appropriate for beet for early harvest.
“Its fairly clear to us that where the target is mildew you should use Punch C, full stop.” He questions the statistical significance of other trials.
In IACR work, the treatment boosted output from late September liftings last year by 9.4t/ha adjusted. “The yield increase is more than enough to pay for it,” says Mr May.
If rust is severe or on irrigated crops or susceptible varieties, such as Duke, Swift, Rebecca and Rosanna, growers should consider switching to full rate Alto (cyproconazole), he says.
Sulphur can be added, at 10kg/ha, to increase mildew control. But Brooms Barn does not advocate reducing rates in mixtures.
Again, this is contrary to advice from other sources. “Despite the cost saving, the effectiveness and persistence of the chemicals is reduced accordingly,” warns Mr May.
ADAS recommends checking crops for both diseases at least once a week and treating early.
- Arable Alerts – our arable news page
- Seed Selector – our exclusive interactive variety guide
- Harvest Highlights – our comprehensive harvest round-up
- See the barley harvest results in the Arable Event trials on FWi
- Waterlogged beet finally lifted, FWi, 18 May, 2001
- IACR: Dont use spud spray on beet, FWi, 7 June, 2001