The challenging spring conditions have made pest control and nutrient delivery crucial for good potato establishment, explains Techneat Engineering application specialist James English.
He adds that there is good news, as the sole granular nematicide, Nemathorin, has been assured for the foreseeable future.
“It’s essential that growers now have existing nematicide application equipment tested and serviced to NSTS approval in time for the season,” advises James. “Accurate application and even incorporation into the soil around tubers is essential for the best results, but also minimising the risk of environmental loss and ensuring the nematicide retains its authorisation.”
The extreme rainfall this year means that many available nutrients in the soil will have washed out, making crop nutrition key for ensuring strong emergence. He advocates for the Placement Pro fertiliser applicator, suitable for granular or liquid fertilisers, which places nutrition just beneath the tuber for quick uptake.
It avoids root scorch by ensuring placement is slightly offset to the tuber.
“With the agronomic focus on reducing overall nutrient use in potatoes, to cut costs and protect against environmental loss, placing nutrients directly in then soil where they will get fully utilised by the emerging crop makes economic and environmental sense,” he adds.
“The range of nematicide applicators, along with the Placement Pro granular and liquid fertiliser applicators, meet potato growers increasing demands for precision agriculture technologies that optimise the performance of expensive inputs.
“The machines are governed by GPS trackers and linked to accurate control boxes that give operators ultimate control over operations. That means growers and agronomists can put exactly the right amount of product, precisely where it’s required by the establishing crop.”
The applicators are designed to fit a wide range of equipment used for seedbed creation, including tillers and cultivators, with a variable number of outlets to ensure effective distribution.
Techneat uses the Apcal cartridge for metering – a single unit that replaces the multi-part rotor system. These are available not only for Techneat machines, but for Horstine systems as well. It enables the units to be adapted for cover crops and small seeds, as well as granular applications.
“That means one machine can have multiple uses across the farm, aside from potatoes. It makes it highly cost effective and, should the farm ever cease potato growing or nematicide use, for example, it remains a useful tool and strong resale value.”