14 May 2010

Winter cereals

Plant growth stage and development in the winter barley plots at Horningsea, Cambridgeshire has advanced despite the below average air temperatures in early to mid-May. Carat, Escadre and Element had around 75% ears emerged on 13 May whilst other feed varieties had awns emerging. The malting varieties were later in plant development with only a very few awns present.

Plant development at the Cambridge site is considerably ahead of the same varieties at the northern Yorkshire Wolds site.

The earlier PGR split applications seem to have been very effective in reducing crop height compared to untreated plots. However, with relatively tall plants, a final application of PGR was applied on 6 May at flag leaf emerging/fully emerged.

Foliar disease levels in the winter barley plots seem generally low. Mildew and brown rust as well as low levels of rhynchosporium are all present in untreated winter barley plots at Horningsea and the weather conditions will dictate the further development of the individual foliar diseases. A final application of fungicide is due to be applied at full ear emergence to control foliar disease through to crop senescence.

In the untreated plots of winter wheat, Septoria tritici is the main foliar disease in most varieties although the disease is largely confined to the bottom leaves. Active yellow rust is present in untreated Conqueror and Oakley. Mildew levels are higher than last season; the disease is confined to the stem bases and younger tillers.

Plant development in the winter wheat plots is slow with only leaf 2 emerging in mid May. The 'flag leaf' fungicide spray is due to be applied when the final leaf has emerged (probably late Mayl/early June but within four weeks of the last fungicide spray). Choice of ear spray will then depend on disease pressure and weather in June.

Wheat orange blossom midge traps are due to be placed in the trials around ear emergence.

The most advanced winter rye varieties have ears quarter emerged. Occasional brown rust pustules are visible on the flag leaf so fungicide will be applied in the next few days to control further disease development and spread.

Winter oilseed rape

The rainfall at the end of April has helped the plots 'fill out' and flowering and pod set is well underway. Overall, the varieties seem short this season, possibly as a result of later start to active spring growth in 2010.

Following the high disease pressure from sclerotinia in the last two seasons, a two spray programme will be applied at the site; the final spray is due to be applied in the next few days.

Spring trials

Crop establishment in the spring barley, spring peas and spring bean trials at Horningsea have been very good and very even. Plant growth has carried on despite the below average air temperatures but conditions are dry and rainfall would be welcome to aid growth. Spring barley is a first node stage, spring peas are at three to four leaf pairs and spring beans are at four leaf pairs. There is still evidence of pea and bean weevil damage despite earlier insecticide applications. Trace element programmes including further manganese along with boron, magnesium and foliar sulphur will be completed in the next few days.

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