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CROP CRACK - 23.2.08
By WENDY FEARON
Clarendon Agricare - Plan for Spring
Weather conditions have been exceptionally dry over the last two weeks but the recent heavy frosts may well hamper the arrival of spring .The later spring arrives though, the more important good planning will be, to ensure field operations get carried out as quickly as possible when conditions do improve.
Early drilled winter cereal crops are progressing well and should be examined soon to assess their correct growth stage to ensure timely application of growth regulators and fungicides.
Leatherjacket numbers have not been critical to date but if weather conditions change they may well become a problem, so grassland and fields intended for spring cereals should be checked for their presence, and treated as soon as possible where necessary.
WINTER CEREALS
As we approach T-Sum 200 late sown crops or those which are under stress, will benefit from 30-40kg/ha nitrogen as soon as ground conditions allow and temperatures improve.
In well-established crops it is better not to put the nitrogen on too early, mid-March should be time enough. Any P+K not applied in the autumn should be applied as soon as possible.
As part of a farm fertiliser plan, careful consideration must be given to the type and quantity of fertilisers required for the growing crop. It is also vital that the spreader is maintained and calibrated properly to ensure accurate and even spreading. Inaccurate spreading causes loss of yield which impacts significantly on profitability. This can be further compounded by increased harvesting difficulties, caused by uneven ripening and lodged crops. In extreme cases, it can create unsightly striping in crops, but remember potential yield could be lost before this striping is visible
Sulphur deficiency is becoming a bigger problem and if you are in a sulphur deficient area sulphur may be applied along with the nitrogen applications. Check all crops, especially those on continuous cereal ground or after recent liming, for manganese deficiency symptoms.
Rhynchosporium lesions are showing up on many forward crops of winter barley and septoria is also present on winter wheat .The best time to apply fungicide is early stem elongation (G.S. 31-32). Aim to apply growth regulator as soon as possible after pseudo stem erect stage (G.S. 30). Some crops are almost at this stage already and will require an application of Adjust soon.
GRASSLAND
Fields should be inspected for presence of leatherjackets over the next few weeks. The most economic returns are obtained from early treatment of fields with Dursban before visible damage appears.
Autumn re-seeds should be inspected soon for the presence of weeds. Chickweed grows well in the early spring and needs to be controlled to prevent the young sward being choked out. Alistell will give good control of chickweed (up to 15cm) and will work well at low temperatures provided there is some active growth.
SPRING CEREALS
Fields intended for spring crops should be identified as soon as possible. Soil testing should be carried out as soon as possible.
Fields intended for spring cereals should be inspected over the next week or two for leatherjackets. Where numbers are found to be above the threshold limits, the best control is achieved by applying Dursban WG prior to cultivation. Highest risk situations are fields coming out of long term ley or stubble fields with good grass cover.
When temperatures begin to rise Round-up Gold or Round-Up Energy should be applied as soon as possible to clean up weedy stubbles and to control scutch grass in fields intended for spring crop.
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