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| 11 sep 2014 |
14:14 |
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Continuously improving sustainability in a successful potato farming business
Hof ten Bosch is a farm producing profitable, premium potatoes for crisp processing. At the same time, Jan and Josse Peeters implement the following sustainable farming practices:
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Monceren
A Bayer SeedGrowth product applied by means of an on-the-planter closed system, Monceren prevents the development of soil and tuber diseases on young sprouts caused by Rhizoctonia.
Curzate, Revus, Infinito and Ranman
Phytophthora is a fungal pathogen that can have a devastating impact on potato yields if it is not managed effectively and in good time. Besides various non-chemical measures described below, Jan and Josse implement a disease management program featuring the above-mentioned four fungicides with their six different modes of action. A key role is played by Infinito, a fungicide with a unique mode of action that prevents the development of Phytophthora in both leaves and tubers.
The integrated disease management solution for Phytophthora
The findings of an EU research program on integrated control of Phytophthora are implemented in full at Hof ten Bosch farm. Primary inoculum is controlled through the use of healthy and certified seed potatoes. In spring dumps without graded soil and potatoes are covered with black plastic to prevent the transfer of new Phytophthora spores to the young developing crops. Jan and Josse utilize the Phytophthora resistance of different potato cultivars to reduce the impact of the disease. And to prevent the establishment of Phytophthora, fungicides are applied in line with the recommendation from a disease forecast system connected to a weather station on the farm. Thus, the type of fungicide is adjusted to the crop stage, weather conditions, and the presence of the disease.
In cooperation with research institutes in the Netherlands and the UK, Phytophthora samples are being collected in 2014 to conduct DNA fingerprinting of the isolates. This will determine the features of the specific Phytophthora samples, e.g. fungicide resistance, and further improve the fungicide strategy in 2015.
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