Over 200 potato growers and operators will have attended the Syngenta Soil Application Stewardship Workshops this winter. The Workshops give a timely reminder on what operators are aiming to achieve, along with a host of valuable practical tips and advice to help deliver more accurate and consistent application.
Leading the Workshops, Mark Bullen, Syngenta Food Chain Manager, highlighted accurate application and incorporation into the soil will help growers achieve the best possible results with both Nemathorin - to tackle soil pests - and Amistar for soil-borne disease control this season.
"The techniques and equipment available to growers have advanced significantly over recent years. The certified Stewardship Workshops are designed to ensure they are up to date with the latest developments, and give them to skills to use them more effectively."
Nematicide Application
Advice and information from Graham Basil, Apcal.
www.apcal.com
Cartridge vs Rotors
Whilst well set-up and maintained conventional rotor metering mechanisms can achieve very accurate and consistent results, there are at least 21 steps in the set-up that could cause potential problems. Providing cartridge units are installed the right way up (with the small openings facing upwards), there is no further adjustment required.
Cartridge manufacturers, Apcal, believe the new Nemathorin Cartridge has a working life of at least 35 hectares per outlet – i.e. 70 hectares for a two outlet cartridge and over 100 hectares for a three outlet version. The new cartridge should be fitted and run one way for around 20 hectares per outlet (40 – 60 ha), and then taken out and reversed around for a further 15 hectares per outlet (30 – 45 ha).
Typically the running costs for maintaining accurate metering with the cartridge will equate to around 30p per hectare – less than 0.001% of the value of the product being applied.
Gentle tighten
When fitting a new cartridge into a Microband metering unit housing, secure with the two outside grub screws only – not using the central screw. Do not overtighten.
Hit the bottle
A simple device to make calibration of nematicide granule metering units cleaner and faster is to fix a short length of outlet delivery tube onto an old drinks bottle, and use that to collect granules during calibration. Softening the tube in warm water enables it to be screwed securely onto the thread of the bottle. Make the same number of bottles as outlets, each numbered with a marker, and the entire calibration can take place in one operation – the consistency of output can instantly assessed by the level of granules in the bottle and easily weighed to check application rate. Keep calibration bottles clean and dry in a sealed container in the chemical store.
Fishtail heads up
Granule distribution through fishtail heads can help achieve more even spread across the soil surface for incorporation. However, fishtail heads only work when fixed in the vertical position; if fixed at an angle they will perform very poorly. If the only available fixing position on the incorporation equipment means that granules need to be directed at an angle, it is best to use a deflector plate to direct the spread.
Mind the gap
Conventional rotors fitted in the metering mechanism need to have the correct gap between rotor and spacer. Always use the specific wide feeler gauge available from Horstine Farmery, not a car feeler gauge which is too narrow to be effective. Take care with tightening grub screws to avoid altering the gap after setting.
Wheel easy to use guide
The new easy-to-use Nemathorin Calibration Wheel will give the typical sprocket settings for most combinations of outlets and rows using the Apcal Cartridge with chain or belt driven Microband units. It also gives the output per outlet that should be achieved on calibration; if the actual figure achieved is different a ladder of sprocket options is provided to adjust output to the correct point, before recalibrating to check.
Click here for an on-line calibration guide.
Water tight
Nematicide granules must be kept dry at all times. Storage in a cool, dry environment is a prerequisite, but equally important to keep product dry in the field – before filling and during operation. Ensure hopper lids have no cracks and seal effectively. Where hoppers have a rubber flange above the metering unit ensure it is folded down to let water run off. Some hoppers have a pre-moulded ridge that stops moisture running down the sides. If it is wet during operation or rain holds up play, putting a cut off plastic barrel or large plastic bag over the hopper can improve waterproofing.
Amistar Application
Advice and information from Mick Gathercole of Team Sprayers. www.teamsprayers.co.uk
Nozzle choice
All Amistar applicators should now be fitted with the specific brass nozzles that enable sufficient spray flow and pressure to minimise risk of blockages. The nozzles do need to be checked and calibrated each year as part of an annual service that will ensure the machine is working efficiently, however they are extremely robust and will rarely, if ever, need replacing.
Nozzles on target
Nozzles fitted on the planter must be angled to target the soil and minimise direct spraying onto the seed tuber. Where possible, the front nozzle should be fitted in the opening share to spray the soil as it lifts, with a second nozzle mounted behind the planter spout to spray the soil as it closes back in behind the seed.
If there is not room to fit a nozzle in the front of the opening share, the two nozzles should be fitted at the rear; two nozzles have proved more effective than a single nozzle in this situation, to give sufficient flow rate.
Accurate direct injection advance
The advent of direct injection units that accurately meter the right amount of Amistar into the spray line at the point of application. The Team Accurate Chemical Application (ACA) unit avoids any need to measure and pre-mix chemical and, with only clean water in the main tank, there is no risk of settling out or need to maintain agitation if work is interrupted. The injection rate can be altered far more readily to match planting speed – which can vary widely according to system, operator and ground conditions – and maintain a constant 3l/ha application rate.
For convenience the Amistar can be left in the unit’s tank throughout the season, but operators must be aware that if conditions turn very cold with frosty mornings the systems will not work properly. The best advice in cold conditions is to fill the direct injection tank with fresh Amistar each morning.
The other key tip is to make sure that no water gets into the Amistar container on the direct injection unit.
Straight flush
With the Team ACA unit operators can switch off the flow for around 200m at the end of the final pass of the day, which allows for all the concentrate to work through the system. A simple flush system using water from the tank will clean the lines and injector. In the morning, another quick flush with clean water and then switching over to injection will have the system ready for work in minutes.
