Interagro UK Ltd has introduced a new pod sticker for use in oilseed rape, Iskay. A specialist blend of polymers, emusifiers and surfactants, Iskay is designed to minimise seed losses in oilseed rape due to pod shatter before and during harvest. In trials its use has resulted in yield increases of up to 0.52 t/ha, worth over £135/hectare.
"Iskay is a specialist pod sticker that reduces the number of cracked and split pods, so reducing seed loss, improving yield and reducing the number of volunteers after harvest. It works by forming a lattice or mesh over the fragile pods, which prevents the pod from splitting when maturing or during dry or rainy conditions. This means that the upper and lower pods are secured together, preventing the pod from opening up and so minimising seed loss," explains Alan East, Technical Manager for Interagro UK Ltd.
"Iskay has no adverse effects on the crop and allows the pod to mature naturally, enabling the crop to achieve its maximum yield. It doesn’t affect the speed of desiccation and has no adverse effects on seed quality or seed maturity, enabling growers to manage harvest more efficiently. It is rainfast within 30 minutes of application," he says.
"Trials work with our distributor partners Masstock Arable has shown that Iskay protects against yield loss due to pod shatter. Trials show that the use of Iskay can result in yield increases of over 0.52 t/ha and increases of 0.3% oil content."
"Its use also has a knock-on effect of reducing rape volunteers in subsequent crops which are becoming more difficult and expensive to control and which can encourage higher slug populations."
Alan points out that with the favourable price of oilseed rape and yield being so key to profitability of this major crop, it makes sense to minimise losses at harvest by using an effective anti-pod shatter product such as Iskay. "In adverse conditions prior to harvest, potential loss can be as high as 50%, which represents a lot of money these days."
Launched this year in the UK, Iskay has been used successfully in Holland and other European countries in a number of podded crops such as oilseed rape, peas, linseed and flax.
Iskay is recommended at a dose rate of between 0.5 to 1 litre/ha in 150-400 litres of water as a medium quality spray. The higher dose rates and higher water volumes should be used in dense crops. Iskay is applied from when pods are green and bendy (BBCH 80) up to fully ripe, when nearly all pods are ripe and seeds black and hard (BBCH 89). It can be used alone or in tank mix with desiccants such as glyphosate or diquat. It is packed in a 5 litre pack and is available throughout the UK from Masstock.
For further details please contact Alan East, Technical Manager, Interagro on 01376 552703 or 07775 696268 (mobile).
