Arthur Egorov, Technical Expert on SRH, Agrotrade Group of Companies
This article is an attempt to highlight the key features of the past season, predict the problems of the next one and talk about the specifics and trends of the modern plant protection products market in Russia. All these questions are especially relevant at the start of the new agricultural year.
FEATURES OF THE SEASON 2019.
NEMATODE
In 2019, many Russian agricultural farms personally evaluated the harm that a tiny pest, the potato stem nematode (Ditylenchus destructor), can cause.
The problem has worsened, in my opinion, largely due to the weather characteristics of the past summer. Recall that until mid-July in the central regions of Russia and the Volga region it was warm and humid - the optimal regime for the development of potatoes remained. During this period, plants absorb most of the phosphorus and nitrogen. And the second half of the summer was cold. At this time, the potatoes should have received the maximum volumes of potassium and calcium, but due to low temperatures (less than 10-12оC) these batteries are not digested. Due to an excess of nitrogen and a lack of potassium and calcium, the walls of potato cells became thin, elongated and more vulnerable to the nematode.
As you know, the potato stem nematode is a type of roundworm. The greatest damage to agricultural crops is caused by adults (adult sexually mature organisms). Adults with the help of a special organ - a stylet (reminiscent of a syringe needle) - pierce the cell wall of the plant and suck out the contents. In this case, the adults secrete the enzymes amylase and pectinase, which cause enhanced hydrolysis (conversion of starch into sugar) and thereby increase the susceptibility of tubers to infection with late blight.
Nematode larvae undergo four stages of maturation before entering the adult stage, and under standard conditions they acquire the ability to cause serious damage to plants only at the end of this path.
But in the summer of 2019, too thin cell walls of potatoes turned out to be vulnerable not only to adults, but also to third and fourth order larvae. As a result, the extent of damage to the tubers by the nematode was huge.
This could be avoided by providing a balanced plant nutrition. It was necessary to combat calcium deficiency by introducing water-soluble calcium nitrate into the soil twice in the norm of 3 kg / ha.
The lack of potassium and calcium caused a deterioration in the quality of the potato peel: tubers were more susceptible to injuries, the number of manifestations of melanosis (darkening of the pulp) increased, and keeping quality decreased. In this regard, it is obvious that warehouse losses in 2019-20 will be higher than usual.
Speaking directly about the fight against stem potato nematode, it can be stated that insecticides based on thiamethoxam, fipronil, imidacloprid, etc., available in the arsenal of the agricultural producer. not able to destroy it. Success can only be achieved with nematicides. To date, the most effective drug is Vidat 5G, normally from 42 kg / ha. Also, the introduction of anhydrous ammonia has a negative effect on the nematode. So, in the experiments of S.P.Safyanov (S.P.Spjanov, Fight against the potato stem nematode in southeastern Kazakhstan, 1966), the defeat of Ditylenchus destructor potato tubers at rates of 56-147 kg / ha in physical weight decreased from 7% in the control to 0,02-1,5%, and the crop increased from 106 to 252 kg / ha.
FORECAST FOR THE NEW SEASON
The second half of autumn and two months of winter in the territory of most of the “potato” regions of Russia were characterized by higher temperatures (in comparison with the usual ones) and a deficit of snow cover. If the situation does not change in February, agricultural producers will face new problems in the new season.
- The increase in the number of weeds. The prolonged autumn allowed weeds to accumulate a large amount of nutrients, stock up on energy for growth and development. As soon as the temperature is favorable for growth, weeds will rapidly develop. In 2020, it will be necessary to spend a little more on herbicides.
- The increase in the number of winter scoops. Autumn and winter provided very comfortable conditions for wintering the pest. Recall that caterpillars winter in the ground, at a depth of 10-25 cm. Adults tolerate temperatures up to -11 оC.
- Increased risk of nematode and rhizoctoniosis lesions. This will primarily affect farms planning to grow potatoes after potatoes in 2020. Non-observance of crop rotation (as well as the introduction of a large number of pesticides into the soil, frequent cultivation of the soil) leads to an imbalance in the balance of microorganisms in the soil, and this process is not restrained by the warm winter.
I cannot fail to note the seriousness of the current situation. Remember, 10-12 years ago, the soil pathogen rhizoctonia did not have a significant effect on the crop, the development of the disease could easily have been prevented. Now rhizoctonia is a disaster for potato growers, to contain the pathogen you have to make efforts and invest heavily. Potato stem nematode has also become a problem not so long ago, and favorable weather conditions and the lack of a well-thought-out crop rotation system are important factors in its distribution. - Lack of moisture for seed. As we wrote above, in potato tubers grown in 2019, there is not enough potassium, due to this, the water content of the cells of planting material is reduced. Therefore, with early spring drought, planting will need to be watered. In 2020, the mother tuber will be in dire need of soil moisture.
MODERN PROTECTION METHODS. COURSE ON BIOLOGIZATION
The plant protection system is one of the most important elements of crop cultivation technology. The goal of any defense system is to maintain plant immunity. At the same time, the task of a modern agronomist is to create optimal conditions for plants with the reasonable use of chemicals. The downward trend in the use of, for example, pesticides (and even complete elimination of them) is observed in many countries of the world.
Representatives of the Russian authorities also often say that domestic agricultural products must be competitive in the world market, that is, the standards for its production must comply with international (European) requirements.
Is it possible today? Probably not. We all understand that in the current circumstances the main task of the enterprise is to increase the volume of production while minimizing investments.
The production of an environmentally friendly product will require large funds. Consider, for example, weed control. To get rid of weeds really and without the use of herbicides: using high-quality soil cultivation. Agronomists have the opportunity to use methods such as "exhaustion" and "strangulation."
Another question is the cost. The use of herbicides is more profitable, simpler and more economical in time than the use of tillage. In order to pay back, the farmer will have to sell potatoes at a higher price. But there are still few buyers who are willing to overpay for "cleanliness" in the country (especially if we do not talk about cities with a population of over one million).
An environmental consumption culture has not yet been formed. Thus, at this stage, if the state does not stimulate and subsidize the cultivation of an environmentally friendly product, the refusal of agricultural producers to use chemical plant protection products is impossible.
Although it is obvious that control in the field of application of plant protection products will be strengthened. Against this background, the growing interest of many agricultural producers in biological protection preparations is understandable.
The protection system based on the use of biological preparations is much cheaper than the “chemical” one.
At the moment, biosecurity is still inferior in effectiveness to the usual schemes, although studies are ongoing, and individual drugs show excellent results.
For example, trials of the Kartofin biological product (SC and SP) based on the selected strain of Bacillus subtilis-I5-12 / 23 in relation to a complex of potato diseases during the growing season and during long-term storage of tubers in cultivar Sante showed high biological efficacy against pathogens of fungal and bacterial diseases.
According to research by scientists from the All-Russian Research Institute for Plant Protection and the All-Russian Research Institute of Potato Farming named after V.I. Lorkha ("Bulletin of plant protection" 4 (86) - 2015), during the growing season the effectiveness of the drug against late blight, rhizoctonia and dry rot ranged from 37.5 to 100%. Biopreparation Kartofin, SK with a concentration of 3-5 g / l (5 l / t) in the working fluid significantly reduced the number of affected tubers, reduced the manifestation of absolute rot, technical waste and natural weight loss during storage of potatoes.
The biological efficiency of the application of the biological product Kartofin, SK in the treatment of tubers before laying in the storage was 78.9-86.9%, the chemical standard Maxim, SK - 52.1% in relation to the control.
At present, farms have already appeared that give preference to biological plant protection. Sometimes this choice of agricultural producers is explained by the fact that the usual chemical preparations, for various reasons, stop working in their fields.
The problem is that pathogens and pests mutate and develop immunity to active chemicals (resistance). For example, agrarians of the Voronezh region note that the Colorado potato beetle in their region is resistant to the active ingredient thiamethoxam. As a result, farms, in addition to dressing, have to include in the protection system one or two treatments against the Colorado potato beetle during vegetation. Whereas in the Nizhny Novgorod region it is still possible to handle one etching with thiamethoxam.
NEWS OF THE CHEMICAL SZR INDUSTRY
However, the chemical plant protection industry is constantly struggling with resistance by launching new effective drugs on the market. In their list, it is worth paying attention to the treating agent for potatoes Vybrans Max (producer: Syngenta company). The composition includes a new molecule of sedaxan.
At the registration stage is the drug fungicide Zorvek Enkantiya company Corteva Agriscience. It contains the molecule oxathiapiproline. I want to note that new active substances affect the pathogen in those stages of cell metabolism where other known active substances did not exert any effect. That is, the risk of resistance in the near future is minimized.
Combined drugs are an effective measure for controlling pests, diseases, and weeds. Now almost every second drug belongs to this category. This is also a means of combating resistance, in addition, the use of such drugs reduces the cost of introducing pesticides.
Summing up the topic, I can say that, most likely, in the next 20 years, the consumption of chemical plant protection products in Russia will decrease slightly. The most dangerous preparations for human health will gradually leave the market. In turn, the consumption of biological products will increase. Many agricultural enterprises will rely in their work on a combination of chemical and biological plant protection products. Biological products will help reduce the cost of the final product. But even without the “knockdown effects” of chemicals, pathogens and pests cannot be fought. Although ultimately, the development of events will depend on whether or not the state tightens the MPC parameters of chemicals in food.
Agrotrade Company
Direction:
Plant protection products
(831) 461 91 58
the www.agrotradesystem.r
the egorovag@agrotradesystem.r
8 - 910 137 61 34