Slug surge makes fast crop protection key
A surge in slug activity in the event of rain will make fast crop protection a priority to avoid damage to seedlings. With rain forecast for many regions in the coming week, growers are advised to use a pellet that targets slugs rapidly.
Protecting crops fast could be particularly important this season with rape seeds struggling to emerge and wheat being drilled into dry seedbeds, prolonging germination. Slug activity has been low so far as consequence of the hot weather, but even a short shower can lead to a rise in slug activity putting seeds at risk before they have had the chance to emerge let alone establish. Poor seedbeds could exacerbate this situation. Agronomists report that farmers in many regions have struggled to achieve a fine tilth in the dry conditions leaving clods and cracks in the soil, which slugs can move through easily.
"When it comes to slug attack, the critical point is the early stages of emergence when crops are vulnerable to grazing at the growth points and to seed hollowing, which will damage them before they have emerged. The best recourse is to broadcast quality Meta-metaldehyde pellets immediately after drilling as these have proven to target slugs fast, stopping them from feeding, so will provide rapid protection of newly drilled wheat and rape crops that have yet to emerge. Meta-metaldehyde pellets are also proven to achieve consistently high mortality of slugs in all conditions, including very wet, so continue to target slugs in rain, just when they’re needed to be at their most effective," says Jean-François Testut technical manager of pellet manufacturer CDP Clartex.
Trials at IACR Long Ashton support Testut’s advice to broadcast pellets on the soil surface. In the trials, broadcasting pellets was found to achieve a higher over all slug mortality rate than ad-mixing pellets. This was thought to be the case as slugs travel to the surface in rain before re-submerging when they would find the seed.
"Meta-metaldehyde pellets are the best choice in encouraging biodiversity in arable situations," continues Testut. "Trials have proved that the active ingredient does not effect common field dwelling creatures including staphylinids, ants, spiders, bees and carabid beetles, which are known to prey on slugs. During these changeable conditions controlling pests can be particularly difficult and growers should look to maximise the role of natural predators in their fields, wherever possible using pest-specific products like metaldehyde pellets which target only slugs."
