Application Field / Broad Acre / Commodity Crops
Now start to decontaminate your soil from sclerotia!
Combating Sclerotinia with Contans®WG can be flexibly incorporated in every crop rotation and operational organization. Coniothyrium mintans acts as a parasite on the hard resting structures of the pathogen (sclerotia) in the soil and degrades them, which produces the long lasting effect of Contans®WG.
Possible application times are immediately before planting or on the residues of an infected susceptible crop (Oilseed rape, Soya, Beans, etc.) after harvest.
Recommended applications
Contans®WG is a water dispersible granule and is applied directly on the soil or on the infested harvest residues by means of a pesticide spray.
Through the regular application of Contans®WG on infested harvest residues or by means of the pre-planting application, the cause of white stem rot in the soil is combated: The sclerotia (continuous form of the pathogen)!
With every application of Contans®WG, on average 95% of the sclerotia in the soil layer are destroyed in which Contans®WG was incorporated. As a result, the Sclerotinia problem is reduced from one application to the next.
Application on harvest residues
1 kg/ha Contans®WG on the infested harvest residues of winter rapeseed.
After cultivating a susceptible crop, before the initial tilling of the soil, Contans®WG is sprayed on the infested harvest residues with an applied quantity of 1 kg/ha. For a subsequent summer crop, treatment with Contans®WG can only take place in the spring. Even so, it should be applied immediately before the initial tilling of the stubble into the soil. After the application, the preparation is incorporated with the stubble in the soil. The subsequent handling of the stubble simultaneously ensures that the sclerotia that are still in the rape stems are knocked out of these and consequently come into contact with the previously applied Contans®WG.
Where cultivation takes place without a plough, the application should be applied where possible in the late autumn when temperatures does not exceed 20°C (68°F) and soil stays moist. Where this arises, subsequent rainfall will additionally promote distribution of the spores.
The objective is to prevent recontamination of the soil with the sclerotia of the pathogens.
Application during the pre-planting process
1 – 2 kg/ha Contans®WG in the pre-planting process.
Before planting, Contans®WG is sprayed on with 1 kg/ha and is immediately incorporated in the top layer of the soil during seedbed preparation or with a combined seed drill. Uniformly mix incorporation in the soil during seedbed preparation immediately after application of the Contans®WG is the precondition for a successful control.
Where there is a lack of equipment for blossom spraying, the application of 2 kg/ha of Contans®WG during the pre-planting process is recommended. Spray treatment at flowering of the oilseed rape crop (BBCH 57 to 61) with a suitable fungicide safeguards the yield.
Total soil decontamination cannot be expected after one or two treatments or crop rotations. The amount of Contans®WG applied may be reduced in the medium-term when taking into account local experience.
As an alternative to the pre-sowing application, Contans®WG can also be sprayed during post-emergence in some countries. With rapeseed, treatment can take place up to the 4 to 6 leaf stage before an expected rainfall. This application time provides additional flexibility where the soil or weather conditions have previously been inhospitable.
The consistent combating of Sclerotinia mould with Contans®WG may well be especially effective in the medium-term, and is then comparatively inexpensive. Important is a “strategic”, i.e. systematic procedure.
When developing an optimum and achievable combating strategy for your farm, advice can be provided by the sales representatives for your region.