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CANOPY MANAGEMENT IN OSR BENEFITS YIELD
Date added: 08/04/08 |
The use of PGR fungicides in oilseed rape has resulted in significant yield benefits in a number of diverse years when it comes to weather and crop conditions, reports ProCam.
If growers are uncertain as to whether they should use a stem extension as well as flowering spray in a programme this season, ProCam’s 4Cast agronomy database indicates that this would be worthwhile in terms of yield, says ProCam Group Senior Agronomist Nick Myers.
“4cast data shows a correlation between yield and fungicide inputs. According to this data in 2000-2004 oilseed rape crops which received no fungicide at all yielded just over 2.1 tonnes/hectare.
“Crops that received a three-spray fungicide programme, autumn, stem extension and flowering, yielded 3.7 t/ha, a very significant yield benefit of 1.6 t/ha, valued at £576/ha with rape at £360/tonne.”
In 2006 the overall yield benefit of fungicides was around 0.5 t/ha, valued at £180/ha at current prices, he reports.
“And last year where growing conditions and Sclerotinia disease levels were a real challenge to many growers, the use of a flowering spray appeared to be essential to protect yields.”
Last year rape crops that received an autumn PGR fungicide spray yielded 3.15 t/ha, whereas crops that received an autumn, stem extension and flowering sprays yielded 3.57 t/ha and those that had a stem extension and flowering treatments resulted in yields of 3.75 t/ha.
“Fungicides in rape are not just controlling diseases such as Phoma, Light Leaf Spot and Sclerotinia, but they also play an important role in manipulating the crop canopy. Growth regulating fungicides such as Juventus (metconazole) decrease crop height and so reduce the risk of lodging.
“They also optimise the canopy structure so that the canopy is more open and able to intercept as much light as possible, resulting in better yields. Metconazole is also able to improve root length density which is important for nutrient and water uptake,” he explains.
“It is difficult to tease out exactly where the yield benefits are coming from. Last year the unusually high levels of Sclerotinia meant that flowering sprays such as Amistar (azoxystrobin), Filan (boscalid) and Charisma (famoxadone + flusilazole) protected yields more obviously. Most years the yield benefit would come from a number of activities attributed to these fungicides.”
“The decision to use a fungicide programme this spring has been debated, as there are two types of oilseed rape crops, some very forward and others less so.
“But what is clear from our 4cast data extracted from seven very different and diverse growing seasons is that attention to detail and investing in a robust fungicide programme will lead to improved yields and margins. This is even more so this year where oilseed rape prices are higher than they have been for many years,” concludes Nick Myers.
PRM178 8th April 2008
For further information please contact Nick Myers, ProCam Ltd., Royston, Herts. Telephone: 01763 261592
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