Sugar beet focus
Trials highlight importance of consistent emergence
• New seed treatment looking good • Helps crops get off to good start • Effectively controls key diseases
tage from the new Syngenta Vi- brance SB seed treatment. Drilled in mid-April into dry
S
soils and cool conditions, Vibrance SB emergence after three weeks was 55% ahead of untreated. Even on a site with no historic evidence of soil pathogen issues, the result was highly positive, says Syn- genta technical manager Geor- gina Wood.
“Norfolk coastal marl soils,
near Weybourne, have immense potential for beet, but are no- toriously slow to warm up and get the crop growing. The fast- er emergence with Vibrance SB has helped get the crop off to the best start, which could help it right through the season.”
Planted at 1.33 units per hec- tare on a 45cm row spacing, emer- gence with the Vibrance SB treat- ment was an equivalent to 66,700 plants per hectare, compared to 43,088 with untreated seed. Emer- gence was expected to continue across the field as soils warmed up. “With the impending loss of
thiram seed treatment, growers are keen to evaluate other options that can ensure more consistent
ugar beet trials undertak- en in Norfolk this spring have shown a clear advan-
emergence and stronger establish- ment,” says Ms Wood.
Challenging conditions Lincolnshire grower and contrac- tor Richard Ivatt field-trialled the new seed treatment during hot, dry conditions last season. De- spite the late sowing in cold, wet seedbed conditions, it delivered a 17t/ha yield increase over the farm-standard thiram treatment. “It was all growing beautiful-
ly, and then the drought hit,” says Mr Ivatt. “It was really clear that the thiram started to go off first, with leaves wilting and then laid out flat, while the Vibrance SB rows were still standing. They appeared to stay upright, and presumably more active, for weeks longer.” An initial assessment of the young plants showed significantly longer tap root growth on the Vi- brance SB treated plants, which was believed to be helping plants scavenge for moisture and nutri-
“
Growers are keen to evaluate options that result in stronger establishment
Rapid consistent emergence can ensure crops have a good start
ents deeper and more efficiently. Taken through to final yield at the end of January, with each of the 700m2
plot areas measured
across the farm’s weighbridge as the field was lifted, Richard report- ed the Vibrance SB treated Sabati- na area achieve average yield of 57.6t/ha, compared to 40.84t/ha with the standard thiram.
Faster root system Vibrance SB has been shown to develop a faster root system for rapid and strong spring estab- lishment. Syngenta says it effec- tively controls complex rhizocto- nia, pythium and phoma seedling diseases.
It combines a three-way mix of the powerful new SDHI fungicide sedaxane, with the proven seed treatments fludioxinil and met- alaxyl-m. Research has shown the seed treatment provides an effective zone of protection from these soil borne infections around the seedling, even with repeated rainfall or irrigation events, says Ms Wood. “Vibrance SB provides better control of key diseases responsible for damping-off in adverse condi- tions. Better control of these dis- eases would achieve more consist- ent plant stands and, therefore, higher yields of consistently even root size at harvest.”
Growers are still advised to
Lincolnshire Grower Richard Ivatt (above left) trialled the new treatment last season. Better disease control means better performing beet, says Georgina Wood (above right).
70 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2019
maintain use of hymexazol for control of Aphanomyces.
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