Application of liquid agents in images

The application of liquid agents during sowing and planting is becoming increasingly common in arable farming. With the rise of the liquid nematode agent Verango (in potatoes and carrots) and the growing interest in the liquid biological agent Serenade (among others in potatoes, carrots and onions), the importance of precise and efficient application is also increasing. Bayer visited two companies that have the technology for applying liquid agents well under control.

"In principle, we can provide all desired liquid agents during the sowing of onions and planting of potatoes. The customer determines what needs to be added; we carry it out properly." This is the word of Marcel Verhoeven from the crop care company of the same name in Erp (North Brabant). For two seasons, his eight-row planting machine and also the onion seeder have been equipped with LvS techniques, which allow liquid agents to be applied with very little water during planting and sowing.

Onion seeding machine
With the onion sowing combination, with which approximately 150 hectares of onions are sown annually, there are two possibilities to apply liquid agents in low doses. At the front of the tractor, right in front of the front cultivator with rollers, a bar with four LvS disc atomizers is mounted.

This allows resources such as Rudis en Serenade applied to the entire field just before sowing. "We designed the beam with the atomizers on it ourselves. After some testing with supplier Agricult, we placed the atomizer at a height of about 30 centimeters. That gives a nice distribution over the entire seedbed," says Verhoeven.

Another option is to apply agents behind the seed coulters. "We used to do that with a spray set between the seed pressure rollers and the covers behind them. However, this caused quite a lot of smearing. That's why we've now placed it a bit further back, right behind the soil pressure rollers," says Verhoeven.

Although most of his customers prefer to apply agents with slide misters (in front), there are also onion growers who only want the Serenade agent to be applied a little closer and more concentrated to the sowing row and therefore choose to apply it after sowing. "We offer both, it is up to the grower which method of application he wants", says the contractor. The option to also place misters behind the soil pressure rollers is 'just a little too much luxury' in his opinion. "A spray set costs around €3.500, a misting set costs more than €10.000. We have to be able to make that profitable in the end."

planting machine
On the potato planter – with which approximately 350 hectares are planted annually – the LvS disc atomisers are placed between the planting coulter and the covering discs. Liquid agents are applied both during the fall of the potato and just before covering, so that the tubers get a good coverage. In recent years, mainly Amistar® (against Rhizoctonia) and Serenade have been used with this. Next season, the agent verango (action against nematodes and more vital crop) are added.

According to Verhoeven, the use of liquid agents has never caused any malfunctions. He does advise to always keep the nebulizers running. "If we don't use any agents, we just continue to nebulize with water. This prevents soil or dust from getting in."

Extensive experience with liquid agents on seed drills
Arable farming and contracting company HD-agro in Biervliet (Zeeland) has been working with liquid agents on their carrot and onion sowing machines for years. Daniël Dekker and Ivo Haartsen explain which techniques they use, how they work and how they are mounted on their machines. "There are many techniques on the market to apply liquid agents, but practical experience determines which systems we actually put on our machines."

Carrot seeder
For carrot cultivation, the contracting company offers two sowing options: three rows next to each other or broadcast on the ridge. "Three rows on a ridge of 6,5 centimetres - where the outer rows are sown just a little thicker - gives a slightly nicer, more uniform sorting in our opinion," says Daniël Dekker. "The condition is that the soil is not too heavy. If you exceed 25% silt, it becomes more difficult to turn the soil between the rows during harvesting and the chance of harvesting losses is somewhat greater. In that case, broadcast sowing is safer. In addition, there are also buyers who want a somewhat broader sorting; then broadcast sowing also fits perfectly. Both systems therefore have their advantages and disadvantages."

For the application of liquid agents, directly after the pressure wheels, there are slotted nozzles (03) that spray approximately 8 centimeters wide. Initially, this was mainly used to add starter phosphate, but in recent years, various agents have been added. One of these is Serenade, which is used against Pythium in particular. "After the seed coatings were discontinued, Pythium has become a rapidly increasing problem, especially on lighter soils. With Serenade added, the roots are just a little more resistant and the skin is also a little stronger, that is our impression. We also see that the colour of the roots is often just a little better when Serenade is applied", says Dekker. Last season, the (liquid) nematode agent Verango was also applied for the first time during sowing. According to him, that also worked satisfactorily. "Free-living nematodes can cause considerable branching, which can significantly increase the amount of tare at harvest. By adding Verango during sowing, you build in an insurance premium against that."

'Do not merge blindly'
Haartsen warns that different liquid fertilizers and crop protection products do not always match well in one tank. "Before you just throw everything together, you really have to try it yourself and see if, for example, flocculation or crystallization does not occur. It is also important to obtain information from the fertilizer supplier in advance about whether their fertilizer actually works with other products. There can be really big differences between them."

According to him, three agents (or more) in the tank always entail some extra risks. "Although the labels sometimes say it is possible, I am still a bit wary of a less effective agent. For that reason, we increasingly apply the starter phosphate separately as granulate during sowing when growing carrots. That simply works more reliably and is also logistically a bit more convenient. In addition, we ensure that the tank does not grow any further in size and weight."

Three onion seeders
HD-Agro has three different onion sowers with which flat fields, ridges and even beds can be sown. The latter option was recently added to the service package. "The success of onion cultivation in this area depends on sufficient fresh water. More and more customers are therefore looking for ways to retain more moisture during the growing season. Cultivation on beds in combination with drip tape may offer a solution for this, although this still needs to be proven in practice. Other possible advantages of bed cultivation are a lower risk of Fusarium - due to more oxygen in the soil - and better development of the root system. But whether all this outweighs the ever-increasing risks and rising costs for onion cultivation is also questionable. All in all, we have to bend over backwards to keep onion cultivation going here", Haartsen emphasises.

On all three onion sowing machines, agents can be applied concentratedly to the seed. This is done via an application set with special nozzles that emit a very fine jet. The nozzles are placed directly after the pressure wheels and before the spreaders. This allows the agents to bind directly to the soil, so that no loss or volatilization can take place. In addition to starting phosphate and various liquid trace elements, an agent such as Serenade can also be applied with this.

Verango and Serenade in carrots
In recent years, knowledge and experience have been gained in various crops with the nematode agent Verango. In carrots, it can be a good basis for controlling nematodes, as has been shown in several (practical) tests. Verango can also be combined very well with Serenade.

verango should be applied by means of a soil treatment. This can be done in the entire field, just before sowing or during sowing, with liquid application equipment on the seeder. The highest yield is achieved with a row treatment in the cultivation of carrots.

Verango can be combined with a liquid starter fertilizer and also with Serenade. In various combinations, mixing tests have already been carried out with good results.

Serenade has a positive effect on yield, nutrient uptake, control of pythium (Cavity Spot) and foliage health in carrots. Serenade can be applied both full-field before sowing and in the row during sowing. It is important that Serenade is applied as close to the seed as possible. Row application is therefore preferred.

Advice on carrots:
Verango: 0,625 l/ha
Serenade (soil application): 10 l/ha

_{Amistar® is a registered trademark of Syngenta}

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