Thick forward cereal crops this Spring are at high risk from both root and stem lodging making growth regulators essential, according to ProCam UK Agronomy Manager, Nick Myers.
As well as reducing lodging risk, appropriate treatment will also make harvest easier and maintain yield and quality potential, he says.
"Cereal crops usually lodge due to interactions between wind, rain and soils with the plant as well as the variety’s intrinsic straw height and strength. Field fertility and applied Nitrogen also have a major impact on crop lodging risk.
"In addition, high plant populations will increase shoot height and decrease stem diameter and stem wall width which weakens stem base strength, making the crop more at risk of stem lodging," he explains.
But this year it is root lodging that needs to be looked out for. High crop density, although likely to produce an overall large root mass, can actually reduce root spread and depth per tiller raising the crops vulnerability to root lodging.
Root lodging will adversely affect water, nutrient and Nitrogen uptake as well as making harvesting much more difficult, Nick warns.
Applications of Upright (chlormequat and imazaquin) at mid tillering to GS 30 have been shown to increase anchorage, develop the root plate and so lower risk from root lodging.
"The inclusion of imazaquin increases utilisation of chlormequat within the plant. It does this by increasing chlormequat’s mobility to the main stem and by slowing down its speed of degradation within the plant, makings its effects last longer."
Trinexapec methyl as in Moddus, alone or in combination with chlormequat products is effective on all causes of lodging, he says.
"It helps thicken stem walls and increases lower stem strength. It can also encourage rooting and reduce stem height, depending on dose and timing of application. By reducing apical dominance it also evens up tillers."
Winter barley is also at risk from lodging this year.
"Generally winter barleys are also advanced in their growth stages and, because many crops are at high risk from lodging, a two-spray growth regulator programme would be worthwhile," Nick Myers advises.
