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Resources for vital crops and rapid growth pay off
"Resources that ensure faster growth of the potatoes and subsequently keep the crop vital for longer are always worthwhile to use," says Johan van Riet, arable farming advisor at Alliance. The product verango meets that requirement well, as far as he is concerned. "It not only works against all nematodes, but also ensures a more vital crop, which means that fungi such as Alternaria and black spot have less chance to strike."
"The start of potato cultivation has to be good. The more input during planting, the greater the output in yield and quality. We see that effect every year again." Johan van Riet repeats these sentences a number of times during the conversation. Especially now that the (contract) prices for consumption potatoes are structurally higher than a number of years ago, he believes it is worthwhile to invest 'at the base of the cultivation'.
Van Riet sees that this is also being picked up well in practice: "Potato growers are increasingly adding more resources during planting. In addition to fertilizers and resources against Rhizoctonia and nematodes, biostimulants and biological resources are also increasingly being considered. Everything that can promote an optimal start to the crop is definitely worth trying," he says.
As for the control of nematodes (potato fatigue and free-living nematodes), there are two options: Nemathorin® and Verango. If wireworms are involved, Nemathorin is the indicated agent, says Van Riet. In all other cases, he prefers Verango. "The great strength of this agent is that, in addition to a broad effect against nematodes, it also ensures a clearly more vital crop. This is due to the active ingredient fluopyram, which grows systemically with the crop. As a result, fungal diseases such as Alternaria and black spot have less chance to develop; something that we actually see in practice."
Alternaria and black spot
According to the advisor, Alternaria in particular is a problem that should not be underestimated. "Due to the increasingly tight fertilization, the crops wear out sooner and are more sensitive to Alternaria. We see this more and more clearly, especially at the end of the season," he knows. Because the focus last year was strongly on combating phytophthora, he would like to point out once again that Alternaria should not be overlooked. "Damage by Alternaria usually only manifests itself at the end of the journey and is therefore often less visible. Nevertheless, a lot of potential kilos can be lost; kilos that are precisely necessary to make cultivation a success."
The same applies, according to him, to black spot – a disease that is still somewhat less known in practice. "Here too, when the crop is in decline, quite a few stems can fall away due to black spot. That is why it is extra important that the crop remains vital."
As far as Van Riet is concerned, verango more than just a nematode agent. "In fact, with Verango you give a nice growth and vitality stimulating package with the seed potatoes. Especially for arable farmers who cultivate more intensively, I see it as a basic agent that should be included in the tank in any case.''
Dat verango is a liquid agent, the advisor sees it mainly as an advantage. "This allows the agent to be distributed well around the tuber and it works immediately and always - even under drier conditions. When it is also dry for a longer period of time, as has happened regularly in recent years, then you can still get a little further with a liquid agent than with a granulate", Van Riet concludes.
Nemathorin® is a registered trademark of ISK Biosciences
