Tillage advice: An update on crop performance
Shay Phelan, Teagasc Crops and Potato specialist, tells us how a variety of crops are performing right now.
Winter barley
Growth in winter barley has increased in the last few days, despite cool temperatures. Most crops are approaching GS 31 with earlier-developing varieties like KWS Joyau approaching GS 32. The last application of nitrogen will need to be applied in the coming week to ten days, but aim to have it all on by GS 32. Remember, crops will be shooting out in just over a months time and so will need all the nutrients applied to support this growth.
The recent wet weather will increase disease pressure, although - with few opportunities to spray in the last few weeks - most crops will now be on a two-spray strategy. Decoy 0.5 L/ha + Comet 0.5 L/ha is a popular mixture at the moment on barley. With PGRs, wild oats and broadleaf herbicides also needing to be applied, growers need to be very careful with tank mixes - especially if trace elements are needed. Many crops are already under stress, so complicated mixes will only make them even more stressed.
Winter wheat
Wheat crops are starting to move through the growth stages now. Despite the poor weather last week, most crops are at GS 30/31 and are in need of growth regulators and the main split of nitrogen. Disease levels vary with yellow rust prone varieties starting to show signs of infection; septoria is evident in all crops at various levels.
Crops are in stem extension and so will require a PGR in the coming week with other jobs like wild oat control also needed in the coming weeks. The addition of a leaf 4 fungicide will depend on whether or not yellow rust is present. For prone varieties, control is warranted; however, in varieties that are not susceptible such as Costello or KWS Conros, then no fungicide is needed.
Pic. 1 There are some reports of yellow rust on susceptible varieties
Winter oats
Winter oats have grown considerably over the past 10 days, although most are still a little bit backward. Crops are generally looking well and growth stages range from GS30 to GS32. Mildew is starting to show on advanced crops, but with little disease on the new growth in most crops.
Many crops are at growth stage 30/31 and should get their first growth regulator. Options include Ceraide/ K2 1.5 l/ha or Moddus 0.2L/ha + CCC 1.0 L/ha. This will be followed at GS32 with the second application, which is the best timing for a plant growth regulator; apply a suitable fungicide as well to control mildew and or crown rust.
Winter oilseed rape
There have been a number of reports of clubroot in oilseed rape crops this year, probably due to poor rotations or the prevalence of volunteers or host plants e.g. mustard, shepherds purse, in fields. Where crops are looking a little bit backward as we approach full flowering, these areas should be checked for the presence of the disease on the roots.
Pic. 2 Healthy root on the left and infected on right
Spring crops
There is still very little sowing completed at this stage, but the coming week looks like some will be planted. Complete bean, wheat and oat drilling as soon as possible before drilling spring barley. Increase seed rates and consider placing fertiliser in the seedbed to give these crops the best start possible.
Early-sown cereals have emerged at this stage and most have received fertiliser. For most of these crops, the next job will be weed control. There are plenty of options for each crop with most crops receiving a mixture of an SU product e.g. Cameo Max etc. and a mixer product e.g. Galaxy. Teagasc trials have shown that where you get a few days of good growth before applying an herbicide, control is improved even at reduced rates.
Beans have emerged well over the past week, but will need to be monitored for bean weevil damage over the coming weeks. Where damage is evident, consider using a pyrethroid insecticide but only if it is warranted.