Knowledge transfer day: Hutchinsons potato demonstration – Crop Production Magazine
Rain might have tried to stop play at Hutchinsons' potato demonstration day, but knowledge transfer continued to flow on subjects such as wireworm, PCN management, crop safety and nutrition ...
Presenting to delegates from one of the yards at Worth Farms in Holbeach, root crop technical manager, Darryl Shailes, highlighted work being undertaken to assess the impact of different strategies on wireworm populations within a crop of popular variety, Maris Piper.
These include a pyrethroid granule which is awaiting approval and a calcium- cyanamide based fertiliser. “At the moment we’re focused on the theoretical effects of these products,” said Darryl.
Equally, some cover crop species can help to reduce wireworm populations; Hutchinsons is measuring the effects of two different types of buckwheat, a high glucosinolate mustard, a lower glucosinolate standard mustard, and a multi-variety cover crop, he revealed.
Darryl also presented research which explores the potential benefits from growing DeCyst-Prickly (Solanum sisymbriifolium) and DeCyst Broadleaf (Solanum scabrum), which can be used as catch crops for PCN as well as cover crops.
“We’ll be comparing the final populations with those initially present (pf/pi) so growers can make informed strategies on how to reduce PCN infestation,” he said.
Simon Faulkner from SDF Agriculture pointed out the importance of developing strategies which aren’t dependent on pesticide approvals. “Concerns highlight the importance of knowing which varieties can offer resistance and/or tolerance,” he said. “Growers have to manage their land to ensure PCN levels are manageable without over-relying on pesticides.”
PCN varietal resistance trials which started last year are continuing, he said, and are assessing a mix of older and newer varieties. “We’re seeing some additional crisping, packing and chipping varieties which have both tolerance and resistance, which will be important traits going forward.”
French marigold (Tagetes patula) and certain varieties of oil radish cover crops can be effective at reducing soil populations of root lesion nematode (RLN) Pratylenchus spp., explained PhD student Vongai Chekanai from Harper Adams University. Vongai first introduced delegates to her research at 2023’s demo day.
As she shared then, the main crops susceptible to RLN include potatoes, onions, carrots, daffodils and other narcissi. In potatoes, Pratylenchus is associated with potato early dying disease and poor emergence. Vongai outlined that cover crops can be non-hosts, trap crops, or biofumigants to nematodes. Conversely, other species used as cover crops can be good hosts which support nematode multiplication.
“Our trials indicate that some varieties of oil radish and French marigolds are poor hosts and suppress RLN population numbers, however, Indian Mustard, which is popular as a biofumigant to suppress potato cyst nematodes (PCN), increases Pratylenchus spp,” she explained.
Michael Rodger from Richard Austin Agriculture updated the event’s attendees on the herbicide crop safety trials being held across 26 varieties, including some new coded varieties provided by breeders.
While last year’s trials were focused on metribuzin, ‘hotter’ herbicide mixes have been used this season. Observations will be made weekly for the next four weeks and the plots will be taken through to yield.
Another area which generated discussions between Hutchinsons staff and growers was agroecological strategies, their benefits and potential pitfalls when not correctly undertaken.
Ed Brown, head of agroecology services at Hutchinsons, emphasised that healthy soils are key to healthy crops and such strategies can deliver benefits for potato crops when delivered appropriately.
He encouraged visitors to explore the principles and keep an open mind with strategies including minimising soil disturbance, maintaining living roots in the soil throughout
the year, maximising diversity, and, where possible, integrating livestock into the rotation.
“These activities will help to develop truly healthy soil, thereby growing truly healthy plants which will rely on less intervention but provide better yields and better quality,” said Ed.
He drew attention to the possible reasons for why PCN may be proliferating, such as too short rotations and a lack of predators for those nematodes in the soil food web. “We have to ensure the soil food web is balanced so individual species never have a chance to take hold.”
Ian Robertson, head of soil services at Hutchinsons, emphasised that nutrient soil indexes don’t imply functionality or availability to the plant.
He explained some of the interactions of the soil food web – which spans from photosynthesisers at the top level, through decomposers, pathogens and root feeders, and predators at different levels.
“Connectivity between the different levels of organisms is key and as soon as you move
soil you lose this, which allows some pests to proliferate above others,” he concluded.
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