Second year of trials success for beet nematicide

Garlic-based nematicide NEMguard DE proved its worth in independent sugar beet trials for a second successive season, despite the low risk of docking disorder in 2022, says Certis Belchim.

BBRO crop protection scientist Dr Alistair Wright says the 2021–22 trials in Yorkshire and Thetford were very encouraging.

He comments that NEMGuard performed as well as Vydate, plants were healthier from establishment relative to the untreated, and root fanging symptoms were signi cantly reduced.

However, it was just one season and BBRO, supported by manufacturer Ecospray and marketing company Certis Belchim, established fully randomised trials during the 2022–23 campaign to build the body of data.

It has again improved root quality, Dr Wright says: “There is a perfect dose response to NEMguard from the Yorkshire site, with an improvement in root quality seen as the rate increased, despite it being such a low-risk season.

“Everything looks positive from what we’ve seen so far and should build con dence.”

With the start of 2023 drilling imminent, he advises growers: “Get soil testing done as soon as possible, get your drill ready and if you have an FLN issue and risk is high, use it in 2023,” adds Dr Wright.

BBRO guidance on application rate is to continue using NEMguard DE at 10kg/ha.

However, the dose response seen in the 2022–23 trials suggests that growers can move up to the maximum individual dose of 20kg/ ha rate to get a healthy payback.

“Even if FLN pressure is moderate, growers should see a return at the current value of sugar beet [£40/t]. If it turns out to be a wet year, the case is even stronger,” adds Dr Wright.

Certis Belchim’s eastern technical account manager Jeremy Booth urges growers to ensure their applicators are serviced and calibrated ready for NEMGuard DE application this spring. FG

Strength

•Confidence across the bout width

•Shatter resistant

Uniformity

•Zero segregation

•Even spread for even growth

Accuracy

• Unrivalled accuracy up to 54m

•Increased wind resistance

Environment

•Half the ammonia emissions of urea + inhibitor*

*DEFRA, NT2605

“If lifting fodder beet, choosing high yielding, high DM varieties that sit deeper in the ground – such as Cagnotte, can pay dividends as when lifted and put into the clamp they tend to keep fresher for longer. Cagnotte also has considerable advantages over other fodder beet varieties in that it is available as primed seed.

“Primed fodder beet seed – seed that has been pre-germinated – enables faster germination, helping a newly emerged crop to establish more quickly, overcoming unpredictable weather conditions, and enabling the young crop to grow away from pests such as aphids and ea beetle. With only one or two aphicides available at present, and applications limited to only one use per product, primed varieties can o er signi cant bene ts.