Strong and healthy crops are the basis for quality agricultural production

Fungal diseases can be classified as important harmful agents that can cause significant yield losses. The flowering period of oilseed rape determines, to a large extent, the quality and final quantity of production. At this stage, it is important to focus on effective fungicide protection and not underestimate the timing of its application. In particular, the infestation of sclerotial blight (sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is high due to the high concentration of oilseed rape.

Effective not only on sclerotinia

ALMIRO®Fungicides, a multi-component fungicide product, offers a unique formulation and combination of three active substances—difenoconazole, azoxystrobin and tebuconazole. This modern three-component fungicide is effective against sclerotial blight but also in protecting oilseed rape against grey mould. The product is applied as a preventive measure or immediately after the appearance of the first signs of disease at a rate of 0.9–1 l/ha.

A reliable solution to protect oilseed rape against fungal diseases is COMMODOR, a broad-spectrum fungicide containing azoxystrobin as the active substance. It has a long-lasting effect and can prevent the development of a new infection. The product has a strong green effect that acts mainly preventively. The application date therefore falls right in the first half of the oilseed rape flowering period. The recommended rate is 1.0 l/ha.

COMMODOR is a particularly advantageous partner for many other fungicides. A unique combination is offered by the joint application of COMMODOR and ALMIRO®Tebuconazole, a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide containing 500 g/l of the active substance tebuconazole. In addition to its high efficacy against sclerotinia, the joint action also protects very well against alternaria leaf spot in cabbage, phoma rot, grey mould and downy mildew in cabbage. For oilseed rape, the ideal application time is during the full flowering period at the recommended rate of 0.5 l/ha of COMMODOR + 0.4 l/ha of ALMIRO®Tebuconazole.

An interesting combination is offered by the joint application of COMMODOR and Patel 300 EC containing prothioconazole as the active substance, which is considered one of the most effective azoles. The recommended dosage is 0.5 l/ha of COMMODOR + 0.4 l/ha of Patel 300 EC. A tank-mix of both azoles can be applied in the later flowering stages as a second booster treatment. These substances are rapidly taken up and distributed throughout the plant. The recommended dosage is 0.3 l/ha of ALMIRO®Tebuconazole + 0.4 l/ha of Patel 300 EC.

Protection against foliage diseases

ALMIRO energy for vegetation s.r.o., offers a number of options to protect winter oilseed rape crops not only against sclerotinia reliably. Effective fungicide protection does not only apply to oilseed rape but also to cereal crops. In the current growing season, the first fungicide measures will have been taken. The crops will have been treated against diseases such as culm foot or true eyespot. Protecting the flag leaf is also important and often determines the final result. Infected and diseased plants cannot produce high yields.

ALMIRO®Fungicides can be used to control a wide range of economically important cereal diseases. Especially against leaf spots, rusts, mildew and brown spot in barley. The product is applied as a preventive measure or immediately after the appearance of the first signs of disease at a rate of 0.9–1 l/ha.

Quality protection of the flag leaf is ensured by the aforementioned COMMODOR fungicide. The product can be applied as such at a rate of 0.8 l/ha or, under conditions of strong infectious pressure, combined with the fungicides ALMIRO®Tebuconazole or Patel 300 EC. The products complement each other perfectly, with cereal crops protected well when combining strobilurin with one of the triazoles. The recommended tank-mix dosage is 0.5 l/ha of COMMODOR + 0.4 l/ha of ALMIRO®Tebuconazole. When co-applied with a product containing the prothioconazole active substance, the dosage is 0.4–0.6 l/ha of COMMODOR + 0.4–0.6 l/ha of Patel 300 EC.

Ear protection

Fusarium infestation of cereal ears can cause a reduction in yield and production quality degradation. In addition, mycotoxin contamination of the grain is a serious problem. Fungicidal protection becomes an essential measure to counteract the pressure of this infection. Azole-based products show high efficacy on fusarium head blight. ALMIRO®Tebuconazole treatment is carried out at the recommended rate of 0.5 l/ha. Patel 300 EC can also be used for ear protection. Targeted ear applications are carried out at the recommended rate of 0.65 l/ha. A combination of both triazoles provides reliable protection. The active substances of these fungicides complement each other well and increase the certainty of the effectiveness of the fungicide intervention. The recommended dosage for joint application is 0.2–0.3 l/ha of ALMIRO®Tebuconazole + 0.3–0.5 l/ha of Patel 300 EC.

Strong and healthy crops

ALTRON Silver New also plays an important role in promoting plant protection. The right choice of fungicide in combination with ALTRON ensures maximum protection. The joint intervention will positively influence the applied fungicide’s effect and improve plant health. Experiments over several years have shown that systemic fungicides, as well as insecticides, when applied together, promote the penetration of the active substances.

ALTRON Silver New offers rapid activation of plant growth and development. The combination of supporting substances with various mechanisms of action, macro- and microelements, a complex of organic acid and monosaccharides (all stabilised in a colloidal nanosilver solution) positively affects the balanced development of the stand, yield potential and production quality. Its great advantage is its use for all crops and at all plant growth stages.

For application in oilseed rape, it is suitable for use in conjunction with a fungicide against sclerotinia or an insecticide against cabbage seed pests. In cereals, ALTRON can be combined with flag leaf fungicides or ear protection against fusarium. ALTRON Silver New will positively influence the effect of applied pesticides, TGW and yield quality. It is also useful for poppy cultivation in the 4th to 6th leaf stage. The application of the herbicide results in rapid stress relief, as well as strengthening of the parts of the plant above and below the ground. Later application is suitable before flowering, at the bud stage. Ideally, in conjunction with a fungicide application. Sugar beet growers have also had very good experiences—support of the reduced toxicity of the herbicides applied and strengthening of root growth. Later application with a fungicide against leaf spot in sugar beet will positively influence the effect of the fungicide applied, yield and sugar content. When cultivating maize, very good results are obtained in the 5th to 8th leaf stage. The use of ALTRON contributes to better root growth, nutrient uptake and pollen tetrad formation. ALTRON Silver New has found its place in the cultivation of potatoes, legumes, hops, grapevines, and in orchards. Its foliar applications are recommended at a rate of 0.3 l/ha.

Looking at the product range of liquid fertilisers of ALMIRO energy for vegetation s.r.o.,ALMIRO®ZINETIC, a concentrate of organically bound zinc, and  ALMIRO®SN Prosulfan, a sulphur-nitrogen biostimulant, are important to mention. ALMIRO®ZINETIC contains a highly effective acetate-uronium form of zinc. Poppy and maize growers, in particular, use ALMIRO®ZINETIC for its fast and efficient delivery of this element. The recommended dosage is 0.8 l/ha and 1 l/ha for poppy and maize, respectively. ALMIRO®SN Prosulfan, on the other hand, is used to rapidly deliver sulphur to plants during periods of increased demand for this nutrient. This plant biostimulant is a source of fast-acting thiosulfate and slow-acting elemental sulphur. The use of ALMIRO®SN Prosulfan in cereals is of great importance. Sulphur positively affects nitrogen use by plants, grain quality and yield level. ALMIRO®SN Prosulfan should be applied at a rate of 5 l/ha or, in case of two applications, 3 l/ha. When used in summer barley, apply until the end of tillering.