Precision placement of granules for potato treatments in the field is now more important than ever to protect crops and maintain plant health.

Challenging spring weather conditions for potato emergence and early growth in recent seasons makes control of soil pest damage and delivering optimum nutrients for growth crucial elements of good establishment, advocates Techneat Engineering application specialist, James English.

News that the sole remaining granular chemical nematicide for potatoes, Nemathorin, has been assured for the foreseeable future has been welcome for growers looking to protect yields and maintain clean land, he reports.

“It’s essential that growers now have existing nematicide application equipment tested and serviced to NSTS approval in time for the season,” advises James. “Accurate application and even incorporation into the soil around tubers is essential for the best results, but also minimising the risk of environmental loss and ensuring the nematicide retains its authorisation.”

Potato crop nutrition

James adds that with the extreme rainfall this year, most of the available residual nutrients in soil  will have washed out, making earky crop nutrition essential for strong emergence. The Placement Pro fertiliser applicators, for granular or liquid fertilisers, assure crop nutrition is put in the soil during sowing just beneath the seed tuber for quick uptake  - and slightly to the side to avoid root scorch on emergence.

James highlights that’s particularly valuable for nutrient availability during cool, dry spring conditions that have become the norm in recent seasons - when residual soil fertility or fertiliser applied on the surface may not be readily available for emerging crop root systems.

“With the agronomic focus on reducing overall nutrient use in potatoes, to cut costs and protect against environmental loss, placing nutrients directly in then soil where they will get fully utilised by the emerging crop makes economic and environmental sense,” he adds.  

Techneat has become the premier manufacturer of nematicide applicators in the UK and the industry leading range of in-furrow fertiliser placement equipment. “The range of nematicide applicators, along with the Placement Pro granular and liquid fertiliser applicators, meet potato growers increasing demands for precision agriculture technologies that optimise the performance of expensive inputs.

“The machines are governed by GPS trackers and linked to accurate control boxes that give operators ultimate control over operations. That means growers and agronomists can put exactly the right amount of product, precisely where it’s required by the establishing crop.”

The applicators have been developed to fit a range of equipment used for potato seedbed creation, including bed tillers and cultivators, and with a variable number of outlets to best assure even distribution.

The company’s pioneering work with the Apcal cartridge - as single hard-wearing metering unit to replace multiple parts of traditional rotors - increased flexibility for growers to select appropriate product choices. Cartridges are available to fit Horstine Farmery applicators that are no longer in manufacture. 

The same innovative metering technology also means the Terracast, along with other Techneat granular applicators, can be easily adapted to sow cover crops, small seeds or environmental mixes, or the application of Avadex Granular herbicide for grassweed control.

“That means one machine can have multiple uses across the farm, aside from potatoes. It makes it highly cost effective and, should the farm ever cease potato growing or nematicide use, for example, it remains a useful tool and strong resale value.”

Techneat Engineering is an official NSTS testing station for all nematicide applicators. The team can perform tests and issue calibration certificates at its factory site near Cambridge or offer an "on site" service around the country.

James also highlights that growers looking to use Nemathorin in agronomy programmes, or to try out fertiliser placement techniques, can utilise the new Techneat Hire scheme to try a Maxicast, Terracast or Placement Pro unit in their own planting system, without the capital outlay or commitment of buying a machine.