4th May 2007

What to do with wheat at T2 timing?

Weather conditions this year have encouraged rusts but reduced the threat of Septoria. Drought stress has also caused crops to be deficient in trace elements resulting in weak crop growth. Yield potential where it has been dry all year is likely to be reduced. The choice of treatment at T2 needs to take these circumstances into consideration, says Interfarm UK Ltd.

“T2 sprays are usually applied at flag leaf emergence (Growth Stage 39) with the aim of controlling disease on the flag leaf and eradicating infections on leaf 2. The flag leaf contributes around 42% to grain yield and so T2 treatment is a major yield-building fungicide treatment. But this year there are other issues and growers need to protect against rusts, mildew and Septoria, in that order, inject some manganese into the crop and have resistance management in mind, all with an close eye on costs,” says Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager, Interfarm (UK) Ltd.

“Readily available in the market, Quell Flo can satisfy all these requirements. It is a leading multi-site fungicide that has a wide disease spectrum in its own right, including brown rust, yellow rust, mildew and Septoria tritici, mildew - much wider than other multi-site protectants. It also helps reduce the build-up of Septoria tritici and mildew resistance. Mancozeb is listed in the FRAG guidelines as a suitable multi-site inhibitor for managing resistance. Quell can be added to any triazole or strobilurin at T2 timing complementing their performance. It is rainfast, delivering leaf surface-acting disease control whilst its systemic tank mix partners move inside the leaf. Efficacy is enhanced, not reduced,” says David.

“One particular advantage this year when crops are looking in need of a boost is the additional manganese and zinc that Quell delivers. A 1.5 l/ha dose of Quell Flo gives 140 gms/ha of nutritional manganese and 13 g/ha of zinc, which help feed the crop, making it greener and leading to improved photosynthetic activity,” David explains.

“Quell is formulated as a flowable for easy handling by cereal farmers and can be easily tank mixed. It has no LERAP and can be used in wheat up until Growth Stage 73. It is also one of the lowest cost options available and is the essential multi-site component at T2 timing this year, particularly as some multi-site fungicides are in short supply,” concludes Dr. Stormonth.

Quell Flo contains 455g/L mancozeb formulated as a suspension concentrate. It is approved for use in wheat, oilseed rape and potatoes. In cereals it is recommended at a dose rate of 1.5 l/ha up to 3.3 l/ha, with a maximum total crop dose of 9.9 l/ha. It has a Harvest Interval of up to GS 71 (grain watery ripe). It is packed in a 10 litre container.

For further comment and information, please contact Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager, Interfarm (UK) Ltd. on 01354 741414 or 07818 036506 (mobile).