In the coming years, the seed potato sector will increasingly have to deal with preconditions that make cultivation more difficult. Due to the disappearance of crop protection products for, for example, aphid control and haulm killing, cultivation faces a challenge.
Delphy organized the fifth national seed potato day on January 30, 2020. During the program, Jan Salomons from Delphy talks about the results of the virus research and the approach to the virus. Research into haulm killing in seed potatoes without Reglone is also a current topic.
In the study of lice pressure, tests were carried out with various methods of lice control. In the test fields that were surrounded with 100% y-virus infected potatoes (to get the virus pressure as high as possible), the amount of mineral oils, insecticides and the frequency/combination of the products were tested. This test was carried out in 2018 and 2019. What is striking is that the high lice pressure in 2019 can partly be explained by the comparatively late lice pressure explosion from 2018. Because this high lice pressure increased enormously so late in the year (July), this had an effect. to the start of the 2019 season, where the lice pressure was relatively high right from the start.
The tests revealed what the sector may have known for some time. The best results from the study came from a rapid interval in the application of mineral oils. The best results were achieved in the test where 2 liters of Oil-H were sprayed twice a week. From this the conclusion could be drawn that a small interval in the application of mineral oils and the best results were achieved right from the initial phase. As far as insecticides are concerned, the conclusion is that a full dose of lice killer every 3-2 weeks is sufficient. The ideal time to spray is in the evening or at night.
The Arable Farming Trade Organization has commissioned Delphy to also conduct research into the possibilities of haulm killing. This is of course due to the disappearance of the Finale and Reglone resources.
The research consisted of applying different combinations and application sequences of the remaining products Quickdown, Spotlight Plus and Affinity Plus. Where Spotlight Plus and Affinity Plus are the same resources under a different name. These products were compared with, among others, Reglone. The conclusions from the one-year study were clear, with only Quickdown and Spotlight Plus the foliage killing simply works a lot slower and less effectively.
For a really fast and effective method of haulm killing, you must switch to the haulm topper with possibly haulm pulling. Of course, blowing in turn has disadvantages in seed potato cultivation (spread of bacteria, among other things). If you opt for Quickdown and Spotlight Plus, it is important to start spraying earlier, it takes at least 5 weeks before the tuber really detaches from the plant. It is also advisable to tighten the nitrogen fertilization a little further, especially for the later varieties. All in all, foliage killing will entail higher costs in the coming year.