Opera set to give barley a good yield
Opera set to give barley a good yield
NEW strobilurin fungicide Opera looks set to offer barley growers a yield response above existing choices – even in low disease conditions. It could also help combat leaf necrotic spotting.
Trial results over the past three years from the main barley regions of Scotland, England and Ireland show that, even in the low disease year of 2001, Opera (pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole) gave an average yield response of 1.9t/ha in winter barley and 0.73t/ha in spring barley.
"This response was significantly above that from current leading fungicides," says Dick Dyason, BASF technical business manager for Scotland. Operas control of Rhynchosporium and net blotch matches or exceeds all current standards, he claims.
Alongside broad-spectrum disease control, Opera has given notable green leaf retention, good grain colour and grain fill, and low screenings, adds Tom McCabe, of Dublin Universitys department of crop science.
It also helps combat leaf necrotic spotting, a condition which starts with a non-parasitic component, followed by a secondary infection of new fungal disease Ramularia, explains James Burke, of the Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow.
Applying a strobilurin fungicide soon after a hot sunny spell, which often coincides with GS39, has been shown to minimise damage. "These effects are more pronounced when Landmark or Opera are used," he notes.
Although Operas price has not been announced, Mr Dyason admits a full two-spray programme might not be economically justified at low barley prices.
For winter barley, he suggests a T1 application of Opera at a minimum of 1.2 litres/ha, plus Corbel (fenpropimorph), if needed, at 0.3 litres/ha. For quality winter crops, consider a T2 application of Opera at 0.75-1.2 litres/ha. In spring crops, the key timing for Opera is T2, he says. *