News Potatoes
What alternatives does haulm killing have?
Despite the imminent ban on diquat, relatively little is being sought for alternatives to haulm killing in (seed) potatoes. Chemicals with the same effectiveness are almost not available. Mechanical solutions are also scarce.
Potato growers have been relying on diquat, the active ingredient in Reglone, for haulm killing for decades. However, the drug is at risk and a ban has now been issued expectant† The Netherlands has also agreed to this. After a use-up period of 6 months, it could already be ready for diquat in 2019.
pelargonic acid
Perhaps the best contender as a replacement for Reglone is Belchim Crop Protection's drug Beloukha. This herbicide can also be used for foliage killing. The basis is pelargonic acid, which is extracted from rapeseed oil. It is therefore a product of biological origin. The manufacturer hopes for an authorization in organic cultivation, where a lot of roasting is now done. This method is also under pressure. Mainly because of the image and the CO2emissions.
Beloukha can be added to agents such as Spotlight Plus and Quickdown to enhance its effect. Anyone who purely wants to carry out the haulm killing with the green agent should use 16 liters per hectare. Added to this are the costs per hectare.
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There is a lot of interest in Austria in alternatives to chemical haulm killing.
A lot of interest
At Piet Regnerus of Rema Machinery, the telephone is red hot. The Frisian company has further developed the haulm pulling machine and combined it with a carrot cutter. Regnerus has just returned from Austria, where there is a lot of interest in the technology; partly because organic cultivation is well established there. Previously, the company was active in the potato cultivation in Saudi Arabia. "We receive calls from all over Europe: Germany, France, Denmark. It is relatively quiet in the Netherlands. It seems that there is less interest here."
An Austrian contractor, who specializes in potato and onion cultivation, tested the Envimax machine. This was also demonstrated at growers association Interessengemeinschaft Erdäpfelbau (IGE). "They are used to only flapping foliage. The effect of this is limited," says Regnerus. "During the demonstration, tests were shown with the substances Shark, Beloukha and Kabuki." The latter is known in our country as Quickdown. Shark is called Spotlight Plus with us.
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Growers' association IGE demonstrated various techniques. Simply clapping is popular.
In Austria, the use of diquat will stop this year. The drug has been found in the tubers, causing a national ban. There is no immediate good solution. The electrocution of foliage is also being looked into. However, this technique is still in its infancy. The haulm killing is more feasible during the current weather conditions. Under growing conditions, this is a tough job with growing varieties.
No problems with drought
The professionalism of Austrian potato cultivation surprised Regnerus. "The contractor who tested the machine is planting 1.500 hectares and harvesting 850 hectares of potatoes and onions in the Burgenland region. In this area, next to Hungary, many vegetables are grown. The climate is more favorable than in the rest of the country. there are large potato growers, including organic companies with 80 hectares of potatoes. Some have been organic for 30 years. The falling prices for organic products is an item."
The drought has not been a problem this year. At the end of July, between 40 and 100 millimeters of water fell locally. However, the black soil can handle this precipitation well. "Normally they water the potatoes up to 10 times. This year 7 times was enough," Regnerus says. "Fresh water is sufficiently available from wells."
Niels van der Boom
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