Nematicide offers new approach to PCN control

Velum Prime (fluopyram) has been approved for use in potatoes for in-furrow application at planting at a rate of 0.625l/ha.

Bayer is also trying to get the product approved for application as an overall spray, using a conventional boom sprayer and incorporated before planting, although it is currently unclear whether this will happen in time for the 2019 planting season.

A large number of trials of the product in the UK have been carried out on potatoes over the last seven seasons, says Bayer root crops campaign manager Ed Hagues. “Across 26 UK trials between 2012 and 2018 untreated yields were 34.8t/ha. Velum Prime at 0.625l/ha yielded an average of 38.1t/ha, an average yield increase over untreated of 3.3t/ha. Vydate at 55kg/ha yielded 41.3t/ha, an increase over untreated of 6.5t/ha.”

Sequential use benefits

While there are many opportunities to use Velum solo in low/moderate PCN pressure situations, under higher PCN pressure, it shows positive yield benefits when used in sequence with half rates of granular nematicides compared with using the latter alone at full rate, explains Bayer marketing manager, root crops and horticulture Neil Thompson.

Mr Thompson says: “The use of Velum + half-rate Vydate gave an increase of 2.6t/ha over the full rate (55kg/ha) Vydate-only treatment, while a similar treatment of Velum with half-rate Nemathorin gave an average yield increase of 0.3t/ha over the full rate (30kg/ha) Nemathorin-only treatment.”

“The price is likely to be around half that of a granular nematicide which makes Velum with a half rate granular treatment competitive with a full rate granular treatment,” adds Mr Hagues.

Bayer is providing support to growers using Velum in the first year where it is being used alone and with half rate Vydate (oxamyl) or Nemathorin (fosthiazate), he adds.

No harvest interval

James Lee, business unit manager at Produce Solutions, which provides technical advice for potato and fresh produce growers says there were concerns over MRL exceedences with granular nematicides and that the absence of a harvest interval restriction for Velum was ‘a massive big tick’ adding a note of caution that ‘we did not know there were issues with the others until we had one’.

The lack of a harvest interval restriction will extend the possibility of PCN control to growers with short-season salad crop potatoes, says Mr Hagues. “It takes the headache out for salad crops.”