Lackham Farm - Studen crop trial plots 2004/05

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Student crop trials

Student crop trial plots 2004-5

Map of crop trial plots 2004-5

Story so far in photographs

Student Trial Plots 2004-5

25 November 2004

The trial plots have all been drilled today, into reasonably good seedbeds. Drilling was delayed due to the recent persistent wet weather, but eventually conditions have allowed progress to be made. Seed rates were increased from their original chosen levels to allow for a potential lower establishment percentage. The field was in maize in 2003-4, and is a clay loam soil. This has allowed a good tilth to be obtained following a plough / power harrow approach.

The soil analysis is:

pH

6.6

P

2

K

2

In addition to the student area, the Higher National Diploma in Agriculture Groups are growing a plot of Rye for demonstration purposes, and a plot of Soissons wheat will be treated in five separate ways. This will show the affects of:

No fungicide
No herbicide
No growth regulator
No chemical inputs
All chemical inputs

and will be utilised by all agricultural students at the college to show how inputs can affect crop growth and performance.

Regular progress reports will be posted on this site as the growing season progresses. The students will produce a report on their individual plots at the end of their courses in June, and will individually discuss their findings with an independent agronomist.

Lackham farm Crop Inspection by NDFM3 and NDA3 Groups

25th January 2005

The plots are looking extremely well considering the late sowing date and the wet, cold conditions at drilling. They have yet to start tillering, but have emerged well with only a few gaps between the rows.

Pests

There is little or no evidence of slug activity, which is surprising, considering the high levels of trash left over form the previous maize crop. The recent frosts should help to contain any potential threats from this pest. Otherwise the main problems appear to be from rabbits, which have chewed the tops from the young plants in several plots. They seem to like the Savannah particularly. There is no evidence of the problem in the rye plot – one good reason to grow this species in areas that are over-populated with rabbits.

Weeds

There are a few weeds present, chickweed in some areas, common nettle spaced across the area and the odd poorly established plant of annual meadow grass. These weeds are not competing with the crops at present, but will need monitoring in March to make a further assessment. No herbicide has been applied to date.

Diseases

No problems yet, apart from a very few leaves on the Einstein with very low levels of septoria infection.

Plant counts undertaken by the students as follows:

Variety	Seed rate kg/ha	Plant count	Plants / m2

Plot 1	Xi19	263	305
Plot 2	Solstice	285	492
Plot 3	Claire	260	364
Plot 4	Enstein	300	576
Plot 5	Savannah	297	412
Plot 6	Robigus	184	300
Plot 7	Jalna	185	388
Plot 8	Einstein	275	480
Plot 9	Soissons	240	504
Plot 10	Matador	200	400

Forthcoming considerations

• Levels of P and K to apply – consider soil analysis previously shown
• Amounts of nitrogen to be applied in the spring
• Early disease control
• Early disease control – watch for septoria

Progress Summary April

Crop Plots 4^th April 2005

All the plots are looking well and have come through the cold weather well. There are some distinct differences between varieties and seed rates that are now apparent. Additionally, tiller numbers on varieties like Soissons and Savannah are lower than other, which is to be expected.

Tiller counts undertaken by the students as follows:

	Variety	Seed rate kg/ha	Tiller count/ m²
Plot 1	Xi19	263	906
Plot 2	Solstice	285	1020
Plot 3	Claire	260	756
Plot 4	Enstein	300	1050
Plot 5	Savannah	297	1100
Plot 6	Robigus	184	920
Plot 7	Jalna	185	980
Plot 8	Einstein	275	1150
Plot 9	Soissons	240	958
Plot 10	Matador	200	1200

Weeds

As before there is little weed growth, the main problems being chickweed, red dead nettle and annual meadow grass, both of which are not threatening the crops, but will make them look quite messy. It is wise therefore to consider an application of a broad-leafed weed herbicide in the near future, just to tidy these up.

Diseases

Very low levels of disease at present, probably due to the late planting date and subsequent cold weather. A very small level of septoria was seen here and there but certainly not sufficient to cause the application of a To (pre T1). Over the next few weeks will require decision-making on the fungicide approach to take for individual varieties at T1 (growth stage 30 -32)

Nitrogen

Sampling of soil nitrogen undertaken by fertiliser manufacturers show February's samples at levels of soil nitrogen lower than in January.

The crops have looked well and there was no real urgency to add the first application of nitrogen nutrient.

This was completed on 4^th April with 300 kg/ha Nitram applied to all the plots (103 kg/ha N).

Summer Term 2005

Once you have conducted a field walk, you will need to decide on a course of future action with respect to nitrogen fertiliser, fungicides, growth regulators and herbicides. You may also wish to consider trace elements.

Below are some options to consider:

Weed control“ generally this appears to have been effective apart from some BLW's. Do you agree and do you wish to apply any follow up treatment?

Diseases: You need to look for the following: and consult your NIAB lists.

Remember; you may be applying fungicides at the following times:

T1: GS31 -32

T2: Flag leaf

T3 Ear protection (wheat only)

Wheat Plots

Eyespot -stem based brown lesions, more common on second wheats. It favours cool wet springs
Septoria -foliar with yellow patches and black spore cases within the infected area.
Brown rust in Soissons -irregular brown spores across leaf

Oat plot

Generally beware or Crown rust (orange pustules) and Mildew
Oats will lodge -will need another growth regulator later at T2

Options: Fungicides can be broadly classified into two families

Triazoles which are generally curative and protectant
Strobilurins which are solely protectant

Triazoles		Strrobilurins
Opus	Wheat: the market leader with excellent curative activity against rusts and septoria. Can be used at all timings. Barley: as above with broad spectrum disease control	Acanto	Barley: Chiefly used on barley, moves in plant to protect new growth, some eyespot activity. Excellent against rhynchosporium
Flamenco	Wheat: as good as Opus but less kick back activity on septoria. Weaker on rust, but useful where low risk.	Amistar	Wheat: Very good on ear protection, with broad spectrum activity -may be useful at T2
Folicur	Wheat: Ear wash with some control of fusarium. Good curative activity on rusts.	Amistar Opti	Barley; the main option -good on rusts and net blotch, weaker on rhynchosporium Amistar + Bravo -good all round protection
Shandon	Cyproconaxole: useful on rusts in all crops	Twist	Wheat: Good T1 option, but weak on rust, so include a triazole where rust is likely.
		Landmark	Barley -good on rust, weak on rhychosporium so use a triazole partner
		Swing Gold	Wheat: Is a combination of triazole + strobilurin. Weak on septoria but useful and cheap at T1
		Opera	Wheat: good for ear protection
		Sphere	Wheat: Good as T2 (flag leaf) choice, but with septoria resistance, will need to use a triazole with it to top up curative activity Wheat: a triazole plus strobilurin with good activity on septoria.
			Others
Unix	Wheat: primary product and: for eyespot control Barley: as above also with good activity on rhynchosporium, mildew and net blotch. Poor on rust	Orka	A systemic cereal fungicide aimed at mildew control
Bravo	Wheat: Multi site mode of action, can use with tank mixed triazole and/or strobilurin to protect from septoria. Barley: useful on rhynchosporium

Some suggestions:


Wheat	T1	Sphere (+ Unix if eyespot present) Bravo + Twist (+ Unix if eyespot present) Amistar opti + Opus (+ Unix if eyespot present) Opus + Bravo
Oats	T1	Shandon + Orka

Growth regulator - will need applying to susceptible varieties and others (?) -remember last summer?

Trace elements -do you wish to add manganese or magnesium?

Nitrogen:

100 kg/ha has already been applied.

You need to decide on future inputs

Remember:

Target on wheat is 180 -250 kg/ha -depending on your expectations

Target on oats is 100 -140 kg/ha - remember oats can lodge